AJ McLean reveals chilling text he sent Liam Payne a day before he fell to his death from hotel balcony

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: AJ McLean has revealed texting Liam Payne the day before his death in an interview published by the Los Angeles Times on Friday, November 1.

The Backstreet Boys singer claimed he was concerned about the former One Direction member, and reached out to him after not being in touch for nearly two weeks.

According to the US Weekly, the duo became close friends on the set of the upcoming Netflix series, 'Building the Band'. Payne's sudden death has left the future of the series uncertain.

Payne died on October 16 after falling over a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His death is currently under investigation, but a preliminary autopsy has revealed multiple injuries on his body.

Several controlled substances were discovered in his room as well as in his system, and which includes pink cocaine - a mixture of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA.

What did AJ McLean last text Liam Payne?

AJ McLean, 46, reportedly tried to catch up with Payne, 31, in October, texting him, "Hey man, are you good?”

The two of them frequently had conversations over WhatsApp, where McLean claimed that they bonded over their personal struggles with substance abuse.

"(We spoke) candidly about sobriety, sharing stories and one-upping each other. We could laugh about it all," he shared during the interview. "Because if you’re still there to talk about it, that means you’re moving in a good direction."

“I can torture my brain about ‘Why didn’t he respond?’ But I get it. I just hope people remember him the way he was — a massive heart and a massive talent.”

AJ McLean talks about losing a 'brother'

McLean insisted that he felt like a “very older brother” to Payne and wanted to support him.

“(Payne) was an absolute light, such an old soul, but you could tell you were talking to someone who had seen some s**t, who had not lived a normal life," he said.

"I feel like there will never be a definitive answer as to why this happened," he stated of Payne's sudden death. "That’s the most painful thing to sit with. Why now? Why this way? But there’s no rhyme or reason when you’re hurting and looking for escape.”

Earlier in October, McLean told TMZ, "Liam was a friend. We had just finished filming a TV show together. We spent six weeks together, and you know, it’s absolutely tragic. I’m still processing it, I’m sure as well as his family and friends and bandmates. It’s absolutely tragic, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone — the family, his bandmates, to the fans."