Simon Cowell Absent from BGT Amid Liam Payne's Death

Viewers of this weekend's Britain's Got Talent were surprised by Simon Cowell's absence during the episode, which featured guest judge KSI in his place. Cowell missed parts of the show due to the tragic death of singer Liam Payne, who passed away at the age of 31 after a fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina. The auditions for the show were initially postponed following Payne's death, with Cowell being notably affected by the loss, prompting his absence during the episode. Ant and Dec, the show's presenters, addressed the audience, confirming that Cowell could not be present and welcomed KSI as a special guest judge. Fans took to social media to express their confusion and sadness regarding Cowell's absence, recognizing the emotional context behind it. Simon had previously mentored Payne during his rise to fame on The X Factor, making the situation particularly poignant for him and the audience alike.