Simon Cowell broke down as he wrapped Liam Payne’s parents in a hug at the late singer’s funeral on Wednesday.
The “America’s Got Talent” judge buried his head in Payne’s father Geoff’s shoulder while he kept his arm around the singer’s mother Karen.
Cowell’s fiancée, Lauren Silverman, looked on during the emotional moment, but remained a step behind the trio.
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The music mogul suited up in a black turtleneck with a matching blazer and slacks, shading his eyes with a pair of round-framed sunglasses at the emotional UK service, which he and Silverman attended hand-in-hand.
The socialite, for her part, sported a black double breasted blazer with black pants.
She carried a black handbag and also completed her look with sunglasses.
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14Cowell, 65, played a crucial role in Payne’s professional life as he helped create One Direction in 2010.
After Payne originally auditioned for “The X Factor” as a solo artist, Cowell paired him up in a group with fellow contestants Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, officially creating the boy band beloved by fans across the world.
Payne’s former bandmates were all in attendance for Wednesday’s service to honor the late singer. At one point, Tomlinson and Malik stopped to chat outside, while Horan and Styles did the same.
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14The “Teardrops” singer’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, arrived at the service just moments before Payne’s four famous friends. She wore all black and walked in with Elizabeth Hurley’s son, Damian Hurley.
Shortly after all the guests arrived inside the intimate service, pallbearers were seen lifting Payne’s casket into the church after a horse-drawn carriage decked with floral arrangements carried it through the streets.
Payne’s funeral took place more than one month after he tragically died when he fell three stories from his Buenos Aires hotel room on Oct. 16. He was 31.
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14Shortly after Payne died, Cowell took to social media to share an emotional tribute and express how “devastated” and “heartbroken” he was.
“I feel empty,” he wrote in part via Instagram on Oct. 18. “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.”
Cowell described the late singer as “kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused.”
“I always thought of the 5 of you in the band as brothers. Regarding their messages today I believe you were,” he wrote, referring to all the emotional statements the bandmates released.
“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 your family.”
Payne leaves behind his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with ex Cheryl Cole.
