Liam Payne death leaves X Factor bosses 'heartbroken' as ITV show release emotional statement
The X Factor has released a statement on Liam Payne's death, with the ITV show posting a tribute on social media
by Simon Duke · ChronicleLiveIt was the TV show that propelled him to monumental worldwide fame and now 'heartbroken' X Factor bosses have broken their silence on Liam Payne's death with an emotional statement.
It was in 2008 at the age of 14 that Liam first tried out for The X Factor, with him making it to the Judges Houses stage before being sent home. However, after finishing his GCSEs, as Simon Cowell urged him to do, Liam returned to audition again in 2010 and it turned out to be a performance that would change his life forever.
While he entered the ITV programme as a solo artist, Liam ended up being put in a new boyband alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson. The then unnamed group were sent to Judges Houses and One Direction was born, with them sailing through to the live rounds and finishing in third place in the final.
They lost out on the 2010 title to Matt Cardle but soon became The X Factor's biggest export, with hits on both sides of the Atlantic with songs like What Makes You Beautiful, One Thing and Best Song Ever, as well as a string of chart-topping albums.
News of Liam's tragic death broke around 10.30pm UK time on Wednesday, with it being confirmed that he died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, after concerned staff had contacted emergency services.
Tributes quickly poured in on social media, with X actor host and acts like Olly Murs, Rylan and Jedward all expressing their upset at Liam's death.
And on Thursday morning, a post appeared on the X account for The X Factor, which last aired a full series in 2018 before celebrity and 'making the band' spin-offs. Above a black and white photo of Liam, bosses wrote: "We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne.
"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. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him."
Updates and tributes on this developing story can be found here
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