Simon Cowell and Cheryl Put Differences Aside at Liam Payne’s Funeral Despite Their Rocky Past

Simon Cowell and Cheryl reunited on Wednesday at the funeral of Liam Payne, putting aside their complicated history to grieve together. The 31-year-old former One Direction member tragically passed away on October 16, and his funeral took place in Amersham. Both Cheryl, 41, and Simon, 65, attended the ceremony, united in their shared sorrow for the loss of a close friend.

Despite their personal differences, which have been well-documented over the years, the pair’s grief was evident. Their fractured relationship began in 2011 when Cheryl abruptly left her role on X Factor USA after only a few weeks. At the time, she was reeling from her breakup with footballer Ashley Cole, and Simon felt she wasn’t emotionally ready for the pressures of the show. Reflecting on their fallout, Simon admitted in a 2014 interview with Radio Times that both of them were under intense strain, with high expectations from the American audience.

Simon also made controversial remarks about Cheryl’s appearance, stating that when he first saw her, he didn’t recognize her. He claimed she had lost her usual confidence and looked completely different, sparking further tension between the two. Cheryl, in turn, sent Simon a “horrible” text, later admitting in interviews that she wasn’t herself during that time, and she was deeply hurt by Simon’s comments and the way their professional relationship ended.

After a long period of silence, Simon played matchmaker by bringing Cheryl and Liam together. During a dinner at Simon’s house, Liam expressed his admiration for Cheryl, leading Simon to encourage them to explore their connection. This sparked the beginning of their romantic relationship, which later resulted in the birth of their son, Bear, in March 2017.

Since then, Simon and Cheryl’s bond has strengthened, especially through their shared joy in parenting. Simon has even spoken about how well Bear and his own son, Eric, get along, showing the positive impact their children have had on their relationship.