The music mogul has defended himself following accusations that he had a part to play in the singer's death, because he put Payne in One Direction on "The X Factor" at the age of 16 and signed the group to his record label. Payne, 31, tragically died in October 2024 after falling from the balcony of his Buenos Aires hotel while under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants. During an interview with Rolling Stone, Cowell was asked if it was "hurtful" seeing some people partially blame him for the tragedy.