The globally successful band that included Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were first formed on Cowell's reality show, 'The X-Factor', in 2010.

Discover the surprising truth about One Direction's creation. Was it Simon Cowell who played the pivotal role in the formation of the boy band?

Simon Cowell, The X Factor judge who played a vital role in One Direction’s rise into the spotlight, has issued a statement following Liam Payne’s death. Simon had previously been slammed for focusing on the profits made by an artist rather than their mental health—especially when Liam turned to alcohol as a way to cope with the “isolation” he struggled with while on tour.