One Direction: Are There Cracks In Liam Payne’s Relationship With Simon Cowell?

One Direction fans need no reminding that the band were formed on the 2010 season of Simon Cowell’s X-Factor. Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik made it through the auditions as solo singers but were cut during “bootcamp.” Cowell and his fellow judges saw something special about the five young men, and One Direction was born. Whilst One Direction placed third on the show, Cowell had spotted a gap in the boy-band market and signed the boys on a five-year, five album deal.

No one could have predicted what happened next. One Direction captured the imagination of the British public. Their age and easy charm struck a note with their target audience and Cowell’s publicity machine ensured that One Direction were in the press every day. The power of social media ensured that One Direction became a household name right across the globe. One Direction were the first pop band to really exploit the power of social media, their ability to connect with fans ensured that One Direction went on to become by far the biggest name in pop.

In the six years since One Direction was formed, they have managed to maintain a squeaky clean image despite the constant media scrutiny. The closest thing to a scandal involving One Direction were claims that Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Mailk were using drugs. That issue aside, Cowell proved adept at keeping One Direction’s name in the papers without any real hint at anything that would damage their reputation.

One Direction fans have long understood that One Direction’s image was very carefully managed by Cowell and their management team. Styles, Tomlinson, and Horan have always managed to avoid saying things that could come back to haunt them, and it has always seemed that Liam Payne was the band member most likely to be outspoken.

.@Real_Liam_Payne's solo career 'to be managed by David Beckham's team' >>> https://t.co/YKzxZgvxFj pic.twitter.com/cZ7Y5B57v3

— MTV UK (@MTVUK) July 26, 2016

Payne has used social media to hint that the pressures of constant touring with One Direction were getting him down. Payne has spoken out to ask fans to give him space and was always the most likely to get involved in social media spats. Liam has shown himself to be sassy, his social media put-downs of Zayn Malik’s former friend, Naughty Boy, are the stuff of Twitter legend.

Since One Direction announced their hiatus, fans have been hoping that the break would see them put some distance between themselves and Cowell. As reported in The Inquisitr Harry Styles boosted One Direction fans hopes when he signed a new management team to look after his solo work. However Harry’s massive record deal saw him stay with a Sony label, so it is reasonable to assume that Cowell will have a hand in his solo work. Tomlinson and Horan’s new ventures have also seen connections with Sony, One Direction’s management and Cowell maintained.

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Given his propensity for speaking his mind, it is perhaps no surprize that Payne is the first member of One Direction to move away from Cowell and SyCo for his solo work. As reported by the Evening Standard Payne has signed a deal with Capitol Records and engaged a new management team. According to the Daily Star, Cowell praised Styles, Horan, and Tomlinson for their loyalty whilst dodging questions about Liam’s record deal.

According to the Sun Cowell was speaking during an America’s Got Talent conference call when he praised One Direction by name but failed to mention Payne. They claim that this indicates that there is some sort of feud between Payne and Cowell.

“We’re in touch with them all. The great thing about all these boys – well not all of them but most of them – they are incredibly loyal and you don’t always expect that.

“Niall, Harry Louis – amazing.”

It is being widely reported, including by Xpose, that Cowell is less than impressed by Payne’s decision to distance himself from One Direction’s management team for his solo projects. Of course Cowell will be desperate to keep hold of One Direction, they are a huge money-spinner for him, so Payne’s decision to move in a different direction will be a huge blow to the media mogul.

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Whilst Cowell will probably be unimpressed, One Direction fans will be thrilled with Payne’s move. Are you a One Direction fan? If so let us know what you think of Liam’s move in the comments below.

[Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP]