Liam Payne was texting One Direction mentor Nicole Scherzinger on the day he died
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a devastating turn of events, it has come to light that Liam Payne was texting his former mentor, Nicole Scherzinger, just hours before his untimely death.
The Pussycat Dolls alum has had a longstanding connection with the late One Direction star, and their relationship dates back to when she played a pivotal role on 'The X Factor' UK in 2010, helping to form the iconic boy band.
Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals deep connection between Nicole Scherzinger and Liam Payne
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, currently collaborating with Nicole Scherzinger on the Broadway musical Sunset Blvd, shed light on their bond in an exclusive interview with Billboard.
“I suppose something that hasn’t been said, and I suppose I could say, is that of course she mentored Liam,” Webber revealed. “On the Wednesday when he died, she was still texting him that day.”
Tragically, Scherzinger learned about Payne's death moments before taking the stage for her performance. Webber expressed admiration for her resilience, stating, “The fact that she even did the show at all is extraordinary. I mean, she is an amazing, amazing woman. She is without any question one of the finest performers I’ve ever worked with,” reported Page Six.
Nicole Scherzinger helped form One Direction
Liam Payne's relationship with Nicole Scherzinger was not just professional; she played a crucial role in guiding him during his formative years in the music industry.
Behind-the-scenes footage from 2022 revealed her encouraging remarks to her fellow judges, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh advocating for the young talents that would become One Direction, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
“They’re just too talented to get rid of and they’ve got just the right look and the right charisma on stage,” she said at the time. “I think they’ll be really great in a boy band together. They’re like little stars. You can’t get rid of little stars. You put them all together.”
Liam Payne and Nicole Scherzinger worked on 'Building the Band' before his tragic fall
In the weeks leading up to his death, Liam Payne and Nicole Scherzinger worked together on the Netflix series 'Building the Band', where she served as a judge and mentor.
The show wrapped production just months before the tragedy, highlighting the ongoing collaboration and support between the two artists.
Sadly, on October 16, Payne's life was cut short after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was just 31 years old. A partial autopsy report indicated that the pop sensation had substances, including cocaine, crack, and the antidepressant benzodiazepine, in his system at the time of his death.
