Simon Cowell has appeared to confirm the rumours that One Direction star Louis Tomlinson is expecting a baby with stylist Briana Jungwirth.
The news that Tomlinson was set to become a dad broke earlier this week (July 14), but the reports have since gone unconfirmed, with Tomlinson's spokesperson saying they had "no comment".
Cowell has now spoken out about the reports, and said that he gave Tomlinson advice when he rang him with his baby news.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, the X Factor mogul said: "I said to him, 'You man up'. You're fortunate because you're in a position to be able to look after the baby and not worry too much about that.
"But I also told him, 'I've received bad calls in my life but this is not one of them. This is your business but I'm here for you'."
Cowell then dismissed the idea that the baby news could reflect badly on One Direction's image, saying: "He didn't kill anyone. He got someone pregnant. It happens every day all over the world. Again, Louis has got great family around him and, look, it's a plus, not a negative."
He added that the boyband may take some time off after releasing their fifth album, explaining: "In terms of the band, they've got enough hits now they can take some time off and do some other stuff they want to do. Then I hope they'll have a little bit of time apart and want to get back together again. It's a fun job, but it's absolutely their decision."
Neither Tomlinson nor Jungwirth have officially confirmed the baby news.
