'X Factor' contestant Rebecca Ferguson links Liam Payne's death to appearance on talent show

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In the wake of Liam Payne’s tragic and untimely death, his former 'X Factor' co-star Rebecca Ferguson has made a deeply emotional claim regarding the role of the show in his fate, as per OK Magazine.

Ferguson, who was on the same season of the hit talent show as Payne, shared her grief and shock, reflecting on her memories with him and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.

Rebecca Ferguson takes to social media to reflect on Liam Payne's passing

Payne, who rose to fame as a member of 'One Direction,' recently died after a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

His death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, prompting many to reflect on the pressures of fame and the impact it had on his life.

Ferguson, known for her time on 'X Factor' and as a solo artist, took to social media to share her thoughts on Payne’s death, making a bold and heartbreaking statement about how their shared experience on the show might have affected his fate.

"It's always a hotel room! We both met at Euston station and shared the taxi together to 'X Factor.' I can't help but think of that boy who was hopeful and looking forward to his bright future ahead. If he hadn't jumped on that train and jumped in that taxi, I believe he would be alive today," Ferguson wrote.

Ferguson went on to offer her condolences to Payne's family, writing, "Rest in peace Liam, I hope you find peace on the other side and love to your mum and family x."

For years, Payne had been open about the difficulties he faced with mental health and addiction, struggles that only seemed to intensify with his rise to fame.

Payne's tragic death unfolded in Buenos Aires, where the 'One Direction' star was staying in a hotel.

According to reports, Payne fell from the hotel’s balcony, suffering a fatal skull fracture upon impact. By the time emergency responders arrived, it was too late to save him.

"Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life," said Alberto Crescenti, Buenos Aires' medical services director.

Crescenti further explained that Payne had suffered a severe cranial fracture along with other critical injuries that made it impossible for him to survive.

Liam Payne was vocal about immense pressure he faced as a young celebrity

In the years leading up to his death, Payne was vocal about the immense pressure he faced as a young celebrity, which contributed to his struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

His story, unfortunately, mirrors that of many stars who find themselves in the spotlight at an early age, only to grapple with the weight of fame.

In a candid conversation on the 2019 Sky show 'Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking,' Payne reflected on his battle with loneliness, saying, "There’s times where that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day… every so often, you’re like, when will this end?"

He shockingly admitted that his struggles almost cost him his life on multiple occasions, revealing, "That’s almost nearly killed me a couple of times."

In 2021, during an interview on 'The Diary of a CEO' podcast, Payne opened up further about his battle with alcoholism. "It was a problem," he said, explaining that his drinking habits had become "really, really severe" during his time in the band.

Payne described how, during One Direction’s peak, the immense pressure to perform and maintain a public image drove him to isolate himself in his hotel room, where alcohol became an unhealthy coping mechanism.

"It feels to me like when we were in the band, the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just lock us in our rooms. And, of course, what’s in the room? Minibar. So at a certain point, I thought, well, I’m going to have a party for one – and that just seemed to carry on throughout many years of my life."