Nicole Scherzinger has finally spoken out following the devastating death of Liam Payne at the age of 31. On Friday, the 46-year-old singer posted a heartfelt tribute to Payne on Instagram. Alongside Simon Cowell, Scherzinger played a pivotal role in forming the boy band One Direction, which included Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, during the 2010 season of 'The X Factor.'
In her emotional message, Scherzinger wrote, 'Dear Liam, I will always cherish the moments we shared, from the time One Direction was formed fifteen years ago, up until just a few weeks ago.' She shared two pictures of herself with Payne and Kelly Rowland, adding, 'It was a blessing to work with you recently. We shared a deep love and passion for music, and I will always remember our meaningful and joyful conversations.'
Scherzinger continued, 'It's been incredibly difficult to accept that you are no longer with us, but I am thankful for the time I had with your kind heart, sweet soul, and wonderful character.' She concluded her tribute by saying, 'You brought so much joy, light, and laughter to those who truly knew you. I will miss you, my friend, and carry you in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.'
In August, it was announced that Scherzinger, Rowland, Payne, and AJ McLean would be starring in a new Netflix series called 'Building the Band.' Scherzinger was set to serve as a mentor and judge, while Payne and Rowland were to be the sole judges on the show. During an appearance on 'Good Morning America,' Scherzinger paid her respects, saying, 'Liam and I were quite close, especially because we recently did a show on Netflix together called Building the Band. I'm heartbroken for Liam, his family, and his loved ones.'
Scherzinger added, 'Liam always led with his heart and kindness, and I hope that's how he will always be remembered.' These heartfelt words came after composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed in an interview with Billboard that Scherzinger had been texting Payne on the day he died. Webber noted, 'She mentored Liam from One Direction. On the day he died, she was still texting him that evening, and the reviewers came in [to 'SUNSET'], she'd just heard that he died. The fact that she even did the show at all is extraordinary.'
Payne passed away earlier this month after falling from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He suffered a fractured skull and died instantly from 'very serious injuries,' according to Buenos Aires Emergency Services Chief Alberto Crescenti. The autopsy revealed that Payne also had a toxic cocktail of drugs in his system, including 'pink cocaine,' benzodiazepine, crack, and cocaine. The hotel was raided, and law enforcement seized computer hard drives and surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigation into who supplied Payne with the drugs.
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