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Nicole Scherzinger pays tribute to One Direction's Liam Payne

Posted on by Vanessa
Nicole Scherzinger pays tribute to One Direction's Liam Payne

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Singer Nicole Scherzinger, who played a crucial role in forming the One Direction boy band on “X Factor” more than a decade ago, paid tribute to member Liam Payne on Friday after it was revealed she had been texting with the 31-year-old -Star the day he fell from a hotel balcony and died in Argentina.

Important facts

Scherzinger, who most recently collaborated with Payne on a new Netflix series called “Building the Band,” posted on Instagram that she will “forever cherish and cherish the time we spent together,” saying she was grateful for his “kind heart, sweetie.” Soul and character.

The post came after Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber spoke about Payne and Scherzinger's relationship. He described the former Pussycat Dolls singer as a mentor to Payne and confirmed that they had texted on the day of his death.

Payne died on Wednesday, October 16, after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, sustaining “extremely serious injuries.”

Sources told ABC News that Payne had several drugs in his system at the time of his death, including crack cocaine, benzodiazepines and “pink cocaine,” a drug that is typically a mixture of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and other substances.

Autopsy results released by officials said he died from multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.

Authorities said substances were found in Payne's hotel room that suggested alcohol and drug use before his death. The investigation so far suggests that the musician was under the influence of alcohol and was alone when he fell.

A local official quoted by the Associated Press said Payne “jumped from the balcony of his room,” and forensic experts later said the position of his body suggested he “did not adopt a reflexive stance to protect himself and that he “could have fallen in.” a state of semi- or total unconsciousness,” according to NBC News.

Police were reportedly called to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. local time after the hotel manager made a 911 emergency call complaining about a guest who was “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” and had “destroyed some items in the room.” .

According to the BBC, the manager also raised concerns that the guest “has a balcony and we are concerned that it could endanger his life.”

Local officials said they had launched an investigation into the death, and the BBC reported that the British Foreign Office was in contact with Argentine authorities on the matter.

Payne's family released a statement to British media the day after his death: “Liam will live forever in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

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Crucial quote

The other four former members of One Direction released a joint statement on Instagram saying they were “completely devastated” by Payne's death and would “take some time to come to terms with the loss of our brother, who we loved very much.” to grieve and process.”

How did other One Direction bandmates react to Payne's death?

Payne's former bandmates all made individual statements on Instagram starting Thursday. Zayn Malik postponed the U.S. leg of his tour, which has shows scheduled this month, due to “the heartbreaking loss he suffered this week,” writing that the shows will be rescheduled for January. Previously, Malik said that even though he and Payne had “clashed,” he felt like he had “lost a brother.” Niall Horan, whose concert Payne attended just two weeks before his death, called Payne “the smartest person in any room” and said he felt “so lucky I got to see him recently.” Louis Tomlinson praised Payne as the “most important member of One Direction” and Harry Styles called his time with Payne “one of the most precious years of my life.”

Who else reacted to Payne's death?

“X Factor” creator and judge Simon Cowell, who put together One Direction in 2010 after all five members auditioned individually and signed them to his record label, said in a statement that he felt “heartbroken” and “empty “. Payne's ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole, with whom he had his son Bear, said on Instagram she was working through her grief and called on the media to stop “exploiting” Payne's death. Cole was a judge on the “X Factor” jury for both of Payne's auditions in 2008 and 2010, both of which took place between 2016 and 2018. Payne's friend Kate Cassidy said in an Instagram Story that she was “completely at a loss” and asked for space to grieve, explaining that she loves Payne “unconditionally and completely.” Cassidy, who Payne had been dating on and off since 2022, was with Payne in Buenos Aires until the Monday before his death, the day she posted a TikTok video filming her trip from Argentina back to Florida. Shawn Mendes stopped his concert in Brooklyn to pay tribute to Payne, saying: “The world is crying for you brother and we are all praying for your son and your family.” And Payne's sister Ruth Gibbons posted an emotional message on Instagram : “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

One Direction's music returns to the streaming charts

After Payne's death, One Direction's music rose sharply on the Spotify charts. The band was the most-streamed artist in their home country of Britain on Thursday following his death, ranking at No. 2 on Spotify's global artist chart. The band's song “Night Changes,” one of their biggest hits with a sentimental message about aging and the fleeting nature of life, was the sixth most streamed song worldwide on Spotify as of October 17. “Night Changes” also sits at No. 6 on TikTok's weekly trending songs chart as fans use it in videos to pay tribute to Payne.

Important background

Payne, along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, was a member of One Direction – a band put together by the judges of the British show “The X Factor” in 2010. They didn't win the season, but the group enjoyed astronomical success after the show and went on to have stadium tours and a string of pop hits, including “Story of My Life” and “Best Song Ever.” The band announced that they would be taking a temporary hiatus in 2015, despite Malik having already left the band earlier in the year. Payne then pursued a solo career, releasing his first solo album, LP1, in 2019, before continuing to make pop, hip hop, Latin and electronic music. Payne spoke about his battle with addiction in recent years, saying that he suffered from suicidal thoughts as a member of One Direction. In a 2023 YouTube video, Payne said he had spent 100 days in rehab and had a “better handle on life and everything that has eluded me” now that he was sober. Payne has had four chart-topping songs and one Billboard Top 10 hit, 2017's “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo, in his solo career. He released his latest song “Teardrops” earlier this year. Payne also had a child with Cheryl Cole in 2017.

Mary Whitfill Roeloffs contributed reporting.

Further reading

ForbesWhat is “pink cocaine”? What you should know about the designer drug linked to Liam Payne and Sean “Diddy” Combs.From Mary Whitfill Roeloffs
Forbes“One Direction” lands at number 2 on the global Spotify charts following the death of Liam PayneFrom Conor Murray
ForbesIn Photos: Fans pay tribute to Liam Payne after his sudden deathFrom Molly BohannonForbesOne Direction members – including Zayn Malik and Harry Styles – issue statements on the death of Liam PayneFrom Mary Whitfill Roeloffs

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