After It Was Revealed They Were Apparently Texting The Day He Died, Nicole Scherzinger Shared An Emotional Tribute To Liam Payne On Instagram

Ellen Durney
·3-min read

Nicole Scherzinger posted an emotional tribute to Liam Payne, who died of “polytrauma and internal and external bleeding” after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires on Oct. 16.

Liam Payne
Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

For context, Nicole appeared as a guest judge on The X Factor UK in 2010, when One Direction competed. Along with Simon Cowell, Nicole has been credited for creating the boyband, which was made up of Liam, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.

Three people reviewing contest photos and paperwork at a table, focusing intently

This morning, Nicole took to Instagram to reflect on the journey she and Liam shared, writing in an open letter: “I will forever cherish and treasure the time we shared together, from fifteen years ago when One Direction was born, right up until just a few weeks ago.”

Nicole poses on the red carpet in elegant attire with diamond earrings
Jamie Mccarthy / WireImage

It was previously announced that Nicole, Liam, Kelly Rowland, and AJ McLean would appear as judges in the new Netflix competition show Building the Band. Seemingly referring to this, Nicole wrote that it was “such a blessing” that she and Liam could work together one more time.

Liam wearing a plaid shirt smiles and holds up a peace sign while walking outdoors

“We shared the same love and passion for music and I will forever remember the meaningful and joyful conversations we had,” she wrote in the statement, which was shared alongside some selfies of her, Liam, and Kelly.

Marc Piasecki / GC Images

The tribute continued: “It’s been so hard to process that you’re no longer here, but I am grateful to have known your kind heart, sweet soul and character…You brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the lives of those that truly knew you. I will ‘miss you’ my friend and carry you in my heart.”

Liam wearing a patterned jacket poses with a thoughtful expression on a red carpet

Nicole finished by sending her “thoughts and prayers” to Liam’s family.

Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

Notably, the Instagram post comes after Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed during an interview with Billboard on Oct. 24 that Nicole and Liam had apparently been in contact right before his sudden death.

“I suppose something that hasn’t been said, and I suppose I could say, is that of course she mentored Liam from One Direction,” said Webber, who composed the music for Sunset Blvd., which Nicole is currently performing on Broadway.“On the Wednesday when he died, she was still texting him that day, and [that evening] the reviewers came in [to Sunset Blvd.], she’d just heard that he died,” he continued, calling Nicole “one of the finest performers” he’s ever worked with. “The fact that she even did the show at all is extraordinary,” he added. “I mean she is an amazing, amazing woman.”

The former Pussycat Dolls singer also addressed Liam’s death while appearing on Good Morning America today, saying that she’s “heartbroken for his family and his loved ones and his friends.”

“Liam and I were quite close, especially because we recently did a show on Netflix together called Building the Band,” she explained. “Liam always led with his heart and with kindness, and I really hope that’s how he’ll always be remembered.”

“Liam and I were quite close, especially because we recently did a show on Netflix together called Building the Band,” she explained. “Liam always led with his heart and with kindness, and I really hope that’s how he’ll always be remembered.”

Karwai Tang / WireImage

You can find Nicole’s full tribute here.

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