Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean remembers Liam Payne as 'light' in his life, says addiction is 'real thing'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean remembered Liam Payne as a "light" in his life after the tragic death of the 'One Direction' singer.

McLean reflected on their time together while working on Netflix's upcoming music competition series, 'Building the Band', which brought them closer.

AJ McLean and Liam Payne bonded on 'Building the Band' series

AJ McLean opened up about the friendship he formed with Liam Payne during the show’s six-week filming period.

He worked alongside Payne, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kelly Rowland as they helped aspiring singers build the next big pop group.

McLean explained that the entire 'Building the Band' experience had been a positive one, mentioning that they "just finished wrapping the TV show" and had "a great time."

He added that the show allowed them to work closely together. McLean, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kelly Rowland spent weeks mentoring contestants, with Payne taking on a similar role as a judge.

McLean, who has dealt with addiction himself, said that while he didn’t notice any signs that Payne might be struggling, he did recognize that the two shared "lots of similarities."

He noted that while they didn’t discuss their respective sobriety journeys, they often talked about "life." According to McLean, Payne was "very funny" and "a sweetheart," TMZ reported. 

AJ McLean on addiction as he remembers Liam Payne

In reflecting on his own struggles, AJ McLean opened up about the impact of addiction.

"Addiction is a real thing. Fortunately, I came out the other end, but I’m one of few," he shared.

He also expressed sorrow for Payne’s bandmates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik, mentioning how members of a boyband become "family" while working together.

McLean said he's thinking of them as they deal with the loss of their friend and former bandmate.

Liam Payne's death and the future of 'Building the Band'

Liam Payne, known for his hit single 'Strip That Down', died after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Initial autopsy findings from the Forensic Medical Corps indicated that Payne's death was due to "multiple traumas" causing "internal and external bleeding."

Earlier this year, Netflix approved the 'Building the Band' series, which saw 50 vocalists compete to form a new pop group.

Payne served as a mentor, with filming concluding a few months ago. However, the show's release, initially scheduled for next year, now remains uncertain.

Additionally, a BBC documentary series titled 'Boybands Forever', co-produced by Louis Theroux and exploring the realities of boyband life, may also face delays following Payne's passing, as reported by The Sun.