Simon Cowell'sBritain's Got TalentPostpones Auditions After Liam Payne's Death

Mar. 15, 2025

Simon Cowell; Liam Payne.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty; Jeff Spicer/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty; Jeff Spicer/Getty

A spokesperson for production and distribution company Fremantle UK confirmed the news to PEOPLE on Thursday, Oct. 17.

“Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone theBritain’s Got Talentauditions,” an email statement read. “Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and all who loved him.”

Ticket organizer the Applause Store first announced onX (formerly Twitter)on Thursday that a planned audition filming in Blackpool, England had been postponed “due to the tragic passing” of theOne Directionmember on Wednesday, noting that the long-running talent show “decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool.”

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause,” the company wrote.

“We are devastated about the very sad news about @LiamPayne,” the Applause Storewrote in a separate tribute post. “We send our love, strength and condolences to all his loved ones, family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Simon Cowell poses with One Direction at the 2013 premiere of ‘This Is Us’ in London.Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Payne waspronounced deadon Wednesday after he fell multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to PEOPLE. He was 31 years old.

Cowell, 65, has an early history of mentoring Payne — who first auditioned for Cowell’s seriesThe X Factorin 2008, before returning to audition again in 2010 ahead of the formation of One Direction. During the show’s seventh season, Payne was grouped with fellow singersLouis Tomlinson,Harry Styles,Niall HoranandZayn Malikto round out the boyband, which would release five studio albums (including one without Malik) before going on hiatus in January 2016.

Liam Payne in London in January 2018.Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty

Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty

“Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” the statement read.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time,” they continued, per the BBC.

Other stars includingCharlie Puth,Ty Dolla $ign,ZeddandPiers Morganshared tributes to the late pop star on social media following his death. “I am in shock right now,” Puth wrote on Instagram. “Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone.”

source: people.com