Heartbroken Simon Cowell receives emotional hug from Liam Payne’s parents

The America’s Got Talent judge attended Payne’s funeral with his fiancée Lauren Silverman, a sad look on his face as he shared his grief. A clearly heartbroken Cowell buried his head in Payne’s father Geoff’s shoulder, while putting his arm around the Strip That Down hitmaker’s mother Karen.

As the three shared an emotional moment, Silverman stood behind them and watched with her hand crossed over her chest. Although the ceremony was private, a number of A-listers gathered when Payne was buried – including members of One Direction – Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

In addition to Cowell, who played a key role in Payne’s career by founding the famous boyband, James Corden and Scott Mills were also in attendance. The Teardrops singer’s ex Cheryl Cole, who is mum to his seven-year-old son Bear, also appeared alongside her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.

Notably, Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who was with him in Buenos Aires a few days before his death, was one of the first to arrive, the Independent reports. The London-based influencer wore all black and was accompanied by Elizabeth Hurley’s son Damien Hurley.

Payne’s funeral took place a month after he fell from a hotel balcony in the capital Buenos Aires on 16 October. (Read more: How did Liam Payne die? Autopsy reveals…) Following news of his shock death, Cowell took to social media to pay tribute to Payne. “I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I shed is a memory of you,” he wrote on Instagram.