Simon Cowell has broken his silence following One Direction star Liam Payne's death.
The music mogul formed One Direction in 2011 when the members each appeared on the X Factor. In a heartfelt statement, Cowell recalled his most recent meeting with the singer.
Payne, 31, died on Wednesday after falling from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
Amid the floods of social media messages the last couple of days have seen, Cowell has been met with criticism as some former X Factor stars included in their tributes how the music industry "exploits" young stars.
Kaite Waissel even issued a warning to the father-of-one, writing on X: "My heart is completely torn to shreds right now, I am at an absolute loss for words.
"If Simon Cowell dare put a statement out on the heart wrenching, tragic loss of my dear and darling friend Liam, he would be a fool."
Cowell initially called off the current Britain's Got Talent auditions in light of the tragic news, and on Thursday it was announced he'd be stepping down from the gig altogether.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, the 65-year-old wrote a lengthy statement. He began: "You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens.
"Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.
Simon Cowell created One Direction during the 2011 X Factor
Getty
"And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you.Every tear I had shed is a memory of you.
"This is so difficult to put into words right now. 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 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."
The emotional post continued: "I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn't your time.
Simon Cowell has paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne following his tragic death at 31
Getty
"And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A Lot of people would have given up.
"You didn't. 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.
Detailing a recent interaction Cowell went on: "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.
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"And how proud you were to be a Dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all those years ago.
"I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have.
"And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it."
"I always thought of the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were.
"And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.
"Rest in peace my friend. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to you family."
He signed off the message "Simon x".
Cowell turned off comments for the post, which was shared on Friday evening after all the One Direction members had shared their own emotional tributes throughout the last 24 hours.
The incident shocked the world on Wednesday night, with police in Buenos Aires say that responders first arrived at the hotel in response to reports "of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol".
Alberto Crescenti, the city's ambulance service provider spokesman, told the media: "The alarm was raised at 5"04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.
"At 5"11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.
“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”
"Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal.
"There was no possibility of resuscitating him."