Sharon Osbourne has accused the music industry of “letting down” Liam Payne following his death at the age of 31.
- READ MORE: Liam Payne 1993-2024: One Direction star who helped spark a pop phenomenon
On Wednesday night (October 16), it was announced that Payne had died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Per The Guardian, the Argentinian prosecutor’s office revealed that Payne’s cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
Payne rose to fame as part of One Direction during The X Factor‘s 2010 series, after initially auditioning two years earlier at the age of 14.
Now, former X Factor judge Osbourne has shared a tribute to the singer, saying her “heart aches” over the news of his untimely death. Osbourne appeared on the show from 2004 to 2007 and was no longer a judge when One Direction competed. She also returned for one final series in 2013.
In an Instagram post, Osbourne wrote: “Liam, my heart aches. We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them? You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner? Rest in peace my friend”
Osbourne did not mention the ITV reality series that propelled Payne to household name status but has been critical of the show in the past. Earlier this year, she said that she would never return to the show because of the “damage” it can do to the lives of contestants.
Per the Independent, she said: “I got to meet some incredible people – Louis [Walsh] is still like my brother, Nicole [Scherzinger] and Gary Barlow – amazing people. But as far as talent shows go, and I’ve been away from it for a while, it was kind of like the Wild West.
“You didn’t really know the importance and what it does to people’s lives and as far as I’m concerned, the whole thing needs to be changed.”
“As well as giving people, a lot of people, opportunities with their careers it can also damage a lot of people too,” Osbourne added. “You have to be very, very careful. you’re handling people’s lives, you’ve got their future in your hands and it’s not anything to laugh at.
“I wouldn’t want that responsibility again, there’s damage out there and I wouldn’t want to be a part of that. I don’t regret it, I learnt a lot about the responsibility of doing a show like that, and it was a great education.”
Osbourne’s tribute to Payne follows comments from Katie Waissel, who competed alongside One Direction on the talent show, calling for more “care and support for young artists”. Similarly, Rebecca Ferguson, who finished in second place on the same season of the show, paid tribute to Payne while also speaking out against the “exploitation and profiteering of young stars.”
The X Factor, which ended in 2018, also shared a message on social media, writing, “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.”
Yesterday (October 17), One Direction’s surviving members Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles shared a joint statement on Payne’s death, where they expressed their devastation, and that they would need time “to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
Styles, Tomlinson and Malik also shared their own individual statements, with Styles writing: I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.”
Styles continued: “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”
“My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did,” Styles concluded.
Payne’s family have also issued a statement, saying: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
