A rumor that Simon Cowell is unhappy with Liam Payne and his new solo deal has sparked up after Cowell gave an interview praising Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, and Niall Horan for their loyalty, but neglected to mention Liam. Meanwhile, rumors that Taylor Swift is using man after man to advance her career continue to fly around.

The Sun reports that Simon Cowell spoke about the One Direction guys during an America’s Got Talent conference. Cowell was joined by co-host Mel B, and he made some comments about what it’s like to sit alongside Louis Tomlinson on the judging panel.

“Louis was great. It was so funny and so odd that he had auditioned for me five years ago and now he’s siting where I am sitting judging other people and doing it really well. I was really happy for him and he loved doing it.”

Simon had positive words to say about Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson, calling those guys “amazing” and praising them for their loyalty.

“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.”

Simon had just been asked about Liam specifically, but he swerved on the question and gave a response about Louis, Harry, and Niall instead, making people wonder if the music mogul is unhappy about Liam’s solo deal or management change. Payne’s latest moves were reportedly inspired by Liam’s girlfriend and Simon Cowell’s friend, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

Simon even pointedly said that “not all but most” of the boys are “incredibly loyal,” before listing the names Harry, Louis and Niall.

British Telegraph reports that Liam Payne has just signed a solo record deal with Capitol Records UK. Liam follows Harry Styles and Niall Horan in inking a solo contract in recent weeks. Harry Styles has reportedly signed a deal with Sony’s Columbia, and Niall Horan has opted to stick very close to One Direction creator Simon Cowell by signing with Cowell’s label Syco.

Liam stated on Twitter that he is excited about his next chapter.

Happy to have signed to @CapitolUK. They have an amazing history of artists, I hope I can follow in their footsteps… One direction will always be my home and family but I’m very excited to see what this chapter brings.

Payne has changed management too, reportedly signing with David Beckham’s management team.

Meanwhile, a variety of rumors and articles accusing Harry Styles’ ex Taylor Swift of using her paramours to make herself famous have been popping up since Swift found herself at the center of a scandal spearheaded by Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West.

Harry and Taylor’s 2013 relationship has been re-examined in a critical spirit as the country-crossover queen’s career story is newly scrutinized.

The revelation that Taylor approved Kanye’s track “Famous” has led many commentators to reexamine Swift’s career path and wonder just how much of it was calculated and/or dishonest.

Commenters on social media have accused Swift of always attaching herself to “the man of the moment.” One observer noted that Taylor hooked up with Harry Styles when One Direction were up-and-coming, only to switch to Calvin Harris when his career star was on the ascent.

Taylor’s new man, classically trained actor Tom Hiddleston, has been celebrated for his performance in BBC spy drama Night Manager and even won an award for a racy scene in the film, reports Telegraph .

Complex reminds us that Taylor Swift admitted that she benefited big-time from her relationship with Harry Styles — in fact, Taylor crowed about it at the VMA Awards.

Taylor hit the stage to accept her VMA, and cheekily told the audience that she wants to thank the person who inspired the song, believed to be Harry Styles.

“Now I’ve got one of these!” the blonde singer said cattily.

“I also wanna thank the person who inspired the song, who knows exactly who he is, because now I got one of these!”

Taylor’s relationships with John Mayer and Harry Styles were both mined for material Swift could use in her songs.

Like Styles, Mayer appeared displeased to be the subject of a Taylor Swift song. Mayer called Taylor’s ex-bashing “cheap songwriting,” reports E Online.

Mayer also revealed that he never got a call or warning about Taylor’s ballad “Dear John.” Mayer was totally blindsided by the mean-spirited release.

“I never got an e-mail, I never got a phone call. I was really caught off-guard, and it really humiliated me at a time when I’d already been dressed down. I mean, how would you feel if, at the lowest you’ve ever been, someone kicked you even lower? I will say as a songwriter that I think it’s kind of cheap songwriting,”

The New Statesman has published a thinkpiece musing that it’s not surprising that Taylor Swift was brought down by Kim Kardashian in the end. Both women have powerful PR teams but very different styles, and in the end it was the Kardashians, with their less clean-cut and more explosive career narrative-building, who hit prim Taylor Swift with a left hook that showed the world that Taylor, too, has a naughty side.

Swift and her team spent a lot of time and effort trying to make her seem both flawless and effortless… Swift knows her brand can’t survive too much revelation too often. The Kardashian style has no such luxury. When your career begins with a leaked sex-tape, you start on the defensive.

[Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images]