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Simon Cowell Reveals He Visited With Liam Payne Last Year: ‘Just to Sit and Talk’
Shelby Stivale
October 18, 2024 at 10:51 PM
Simon Cowell recalled a special moment with Liam Payne that occurred a year before the former One Direction member’s death.
“You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a dad,” Cowell, 65, wrote in his Instagram tribute on Friday, October 18. “After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I met all those years ago.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Wednesday, October 16, that Payne died at age 31 in Argentina following a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony. A preliminary autopsy revealed that he died from “internal and external” hemorrhages.
Continuing his statement, Cowell revealed that he has met Payne’s 7-year-old son, Bear, whom the late singer shared with ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole.
‘The X Factor UK’ Honors ‘Immensely Talented’ Liam Payne After His Death at Age 31: ‘Heartbroken’
“He has your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have,” Cowell added. “He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it.”
Cowell put Payne together with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to form One Direction during The X Factor UK season 7 in 2010. Cowell also remembered the band in his tribute.
“I always thought of the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And reading their messages today I believe you were,” he wrote. “And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.”
Payne first auditioned for the singing competition show in 2008, and Cowell recalled turning him down.
Liam Payne Through the Years: Revisiting the One Direction Alum’s Life in Photos
“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,” the music producer wrote. “A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam.”
Cowell continued: “And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.”
Following the news of Payne’s sudden passing, Cowell postponed the Britain’s Got Talent auditions on Thursday, October 17.
“Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool,” ApplauseStore, the show’s ticketing service, shared in a statement via X. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Partners Group acquires a USD 1 billion portfolio of single-family homes in the US
Denver, US; 16 May 2022
- Portfolio comprised of more than 3,500 homes, including over 1,000 under construction
- Homes spread across 17 states in the Sunbelt, one of the fastest growing areas of the US
- The construction of new homes is helping to expand the supply of rental properties
Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, has on behalf of its clients acquired a portfolio of single-family rental homes in the US with a combined GAV of USD 1 billion (“the Portfolio”), from affiliates of Fortress Investment Group and Kairos Living.
The Portfolio consists of 2,528 recently constructed single-family rental homes and a pipeline of over 1,000 homes under construction spread across 17 states in the Sunbelt region, with the majority located in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma. This region is one of the fastest growing areas of the US due to its high job growth rates, relative affordability, and favorable climates. Migration to the Sunbelt accelerated during the pandemic as new remote working patterns led to increased demand for rental properties with more space than conventional apartments. The pipeline of new homes under construction will help expand the base of rental properties in the region. Freddie Mac estimated that the US housing gap reached four million homes in 2020 due to household formation consistently outpacing new home construction since the Great Financial Crisis. Supply chain issues and labor shortages during the pandemic may have further widened this gap.
Partners Group will work with Kairos Living to execute on the pipeline of homes under construction. Kairos Living will handle the management of the Portfolio, including identifying prospective residents. As part of its value creation plan, Partners Group will also provide growth capital to acquire additional homes and invest in the Kairos Living operating platform as the venture scales.
Ron Lamontagne, Managing Director, Head Private Real Estate Americas, Partners Group, says: “Millennials are raising families at a time when the high costs of living and a chronic undersupply of housing are making purchasing a home difficult for many. The provision of affordable rental properties for families that are not ready to buy their first home has therefore never been more important. We were attracted by this investment as it sits within one of our high-conviction themes, residential-for-rent, and helps ease housing supply constraints.”
Scott Egarian, Member of Management, Private Real Estate Americas, Partners Group, adds: “A rising number of companies are locating or relocating to the Sunbelt from more expensive and high cost, high tax metro areas. As a result, the target demographic for the Portfolio, which typically includes young families with stable incomes that are looking for more space, is growing. Our vision is to capitalize on the fragmented nature of the single-family rental market to build a platform across the region whilst ensuring superior tenant experiences.”
Partners Group’s Private Real Estate business has USD 18 billion in assets under management and has acquired 280 real estate developments and properties globally to-date.
About Partners Group
Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 170 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt, and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group seeks to generate strong returns through capitalizing on thematic growth trends and transforming attractive businesses and assets into market leaders. The firm is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create sustainable returns with lasting, positive impact for all its stakeholders. With USD 127 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2021, Partners Group provides an innovative range of bespoke client solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Partners Group US media relations contact
Prosek Partners
Email: Pro-PartnersGroup
