The reaction comes as no surprise, as Simon helped launch the late One Direction singer’s career after first meeting him on the X Factor when he was just 14 years old.
Now, more than a year after his passing, Simon recalls the moment he first learned the news.
"Somebody who works with me very closely came into my room," the TV celebrity tells the New York Times.
"I was up in the north of England, and I could tell by the look of her face that she was upset. She said, Sit down, and she told me. And it was like — wow."
Simon says the sudden news brought back memories of another personal loss. "It was a bit like I felt when I heard the news when my dad passed away."
"It s very difficult to put into words how you feel. It s just shock. At that point, you re not really thinking clearly," Simon concludes.
