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Simon Cowell Says He Paused Netflix Filming After Liam Payne’s Death

His comments sharpen focus on how the industry prepares young artists for sudden fame.

Overview

  • On the Daily Mail’s Tales From the Celebrity Trenches podcast, Cowell said he was “in pieces” after Liam Payne died and disappeared for a week.
  • He disclosed that he paused production on The Next Act, a Netflix series following his search for a new boy band.
  • He said his role is to prepare young artists for the strain that comes with quick success and to offer support when they face hard times.
  • He recalled that forming One Direction on The X Factor took about 25 minutes.
  • Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, and authorities reported an autopsy that found alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant.