Simon Cowell shared an emotional moment with Liam Payne‘s parents at a private funeral that was held for the late pop star on Wednesday.
Payne was remembered after his tragic death at 31, with Cowell, 65, who formed One Direction on “The X Factor,” in attendance.
In one shot, the music mogul embraces Geoff and Karen Payne as the greiving father wraps his arm tightly around Cowell.
A second picture showed Cowell wiping his eyes as Geoff places his hand on the “AGT” judge’s back.
Cowell was also pictured looking somber while walking hand in hand with his fiancée, Lauren Silverman.
Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Harry Styles were also in attendance at the Amersham, England, memorial service.
Last month, Cowell broke his silence on Payne’s death, penning an emotional message to the fallen star.
“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” he wrote on Instagram. “Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.
“I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together. I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”
Cowell first met Payne on “The X Factor” in 2010 when Payne. The British personality went on to reflect on having to reject him from the show when he initially auditioned at 14.
“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t,” Cowell continued. “You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.
“You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together,” he remembered. “And how proud you were to be a Dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I met all of those years ago. I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have. And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it.”
Cowell would later put Payne together with Malik, 31; Styles, 30; Horan, 31; and Tomlinson, 32; to form the iconic boy band.
Though the group placed only third on Season 7, they went on to become a sensation, with five studio albums, four world tours and a slew of awards.
“We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne,” read a statement shared on the official “X Factor” account after Payne’s passing.
“He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him,” the statement adds.
Payne died instantly of massive internal and external injuries when he took his fatal fall from his hotel balcony, with experts at the time telling The Post that the singer appeared unconscious as he plummeted to the courtyard below.
Medical officials confirmed that the star had a “cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”
At the time, witnesses told TMZ that Payne was acting “erratic” before his sudden passing. He allegedly smashed his laptop in the hotel lobby and was carried back to his room before the fall.
Along with pink cocaine, also called Tusi — a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy — the drugs detected in his bloodstream through toxicology screening included benzodiazepine, crack, and cocaine, ABC News reported last month.
