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.

Cowell created and judged “The X Factor,” the show on which he and fellow judges put together Payne’s band, One Direction, in 2010.

Simon Cowell, who co-created and first signed One Direction, is speaking out following the death of band member Liam Payne at age 31. One Direction was created on Cowell's reality show, The X-Factor,