The confrontation between one direction and Simon Cowell has intensified in recent days, creating one of the most notorious conflicts in the world of pop. Recently, the former members Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan They stopped following Cowell on Instagram, which is perceived as a clear sign of discontent towards the founder of Sycoas reported by the Daily Mail.
The conflict has its roots in the exhausting pace of life that the band had to maintain under Cowell’s command. Zayn Malikwho left the band in 2015, commented at the time that he was taking “a break due to stress.” Liam Payneanother member, described the situation as feeling like “caged animals,” a situation aggravated by the constant pressure of meeting a grueling schedule. “We were simply consistently profitable businesses, without taking care of our mental health”said a source close to the group.
Simon Cowell, in an interview with Steven Bartlett on the podcast Diary Of A CEOrecalled how he had warned them about the loss of privacy and the demanding schedule. “If any of those things were going to be a problem, I told them to do something else.”Cowell stressed. However, his comments were not well received by the former members, who have mostly expressed how that pressure affected their personal relationships and mental health.
In 2013, for example, while the band was performing its “Take Me Home” tour, the members were averaging a concert every two days. This routine not only kept them away from their families and loved ones, but also limited their ability to live a normal life. A close friend of the band recalled an incident in which Perrie Edwardsin her relationship with Zayn, had to be introduced into the band’s hotel through the laundry room, in order for them to see each other.
The years of hard work have left a lasting mark on the former members. While Harry Styles and Niall Horan have proven to have a “healthy attitude towards fame”, others like Liam Payne and Zayn Malik have faced more serious problems. Liam was hospitalized this year in Italy with a kidney infection, while Zayn was fired from the record company RCA Records in 2021 due to personal problems, including cannabis use and an altercation with his ex-girlfriend’s mother, Gigi Hadid.
The bond between the former members and Cowell deteriorated further after Louis Tomlinson’s solo performance at the finale of The X Factor in 2016, shortly after his mother’s death. Harry and Liam flew from America to support him, but felt Cowell was exploiting the tragedy to boost the show’s ratings. “Of course they wanted to be there for Louis, but they felt like they were once again being forced to perform for Simon.”said a close source.
For his part, Cowell has continued with his television projects, although with less brilliance than in his prime. Currently, he is looking for a new boy band through a reality series produced by Box To Box Films. Trying to revive the success of One Direction, he has placed ads looking for “future megastars,” but his presence in the industry is no longer what it once was. “He was once the most powerful man in British show business”commented a former Cowell employee, noting that his glory days seem to be behind him.
Despite the problems, all of the members of One Direction have gone on to have successful careers. Harry signed a lucrative solo deal with another record label, while Niall founded a golf management company in 2016. However, the effects of his time in the band still resonate. Louis Tomlinson has been transparent about his struggles with mental health, including panic attacks and agoraphobia, exacerbated by the deaths of his mother and younger sister in recent years.
The race of Simon Cowell, although diminished, is still active. Aside from her search for new stars, she maintains her role in shows like Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent. However, an inescapable truth is that his relationship with one direction It has left obvious scars on both sides.
