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Nicole Scherzinger pays tribute to One Direction’s Liam Payne
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Nicole Scherzinger pays tribute to One Direction’s Liam Payne

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Singer Nicole Scherzinger, who played a pivotal role in the formation of the One Direction boy band on ‘X Factor’ more than a decade ago, paid tribute to member Liam Payne on Friday after it emerged she was texting with the 31 -year-old star on the day he fell from a hotel balcony and died in Argentina.

Key facts

Scherzinger, who recently worked with Payne on a new Netflix series called “Building the Band,” posted on Instagram that she would “cherish and cherish forever the time we shared together” and said she was grateful for his “kind heart , sweet soul and character.”

The post came after Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber spoke about Payne and Scherzinger’s relationship, describing the former Pussycat Dolls singer as a mentor to Payne and confirming they had texted on the day of his death.

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

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

Autopsy results released by officials said he died of multiple trauma, internal and external bleeding.

Authorities said substances were found in Payne’s hotel room, indicating he had used alcohol and drugs before his death. The investigation so far shows that the musician was under the influence and alone when he fell.

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

Police were reportedly called to the scene just after 5:00 PM local time after the hotel’s manager placed an emergency call to 911, complaining of a guest “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” who had “placed a number of items in the room had destroyed”.

According to the BBC, the manager also expressed concern that the guest “has a balcony, and we are concerned that they would do something to endanger their lives.”

Local officials said they have launched an investigation into the death and the BBC reported that the British Foreign Office is in contact with Argentine authorities about the matter.

Payne’s family released a statement to British media the day after his death: “Liam will live on forever in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and courageous 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 passing and that they will “need some time to mourn the loss of our brother, whom we loved dearly.”

How have fellow One Direction band members reacted to Payne’s death?

Payne’s former bandmates all made individual statements on Instagram as of Thursday. Zayn Malik has postponed the US leg of his tour – where shows are scheduled this month – due to “the heartbreaking loss he experienced this week”, writing that shows will be rescheduled for January. Previously, Malik said that although he and Payne “butted heads,” he feels like he has “lost a brother.” Niall Horan, whose concert Payne attended just two weeks before his death, called Payne “the smartest in every room” and said he feels “so lucky to have seen him recently.” Louis Tomlinson praised Payne as the “most vital member of One Direction,” and Harry Styles called his time with Payne “one of the most cherished years of my life.”

Who else reacted to Payne’s death?

Simon Cowell, the “X Factor” creator and judge who put together One Direction in 2010 after all five members auditioned as individuals and signed them to his record label, said in a statement that he felt “heartbroken” and “empty” ‘ feels. Payne’s ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole, with whom he had his son Bear, said on Instagram that she is dealing with her grief and urged the media to stop the “exploitation” of Payne’s death. Cole was a judge on the “X Factor” panel for both of Payne’s auditions in 2008 and 2010, and the two dated between 2016 and 2018. Payne’s friend Kate Cassidy said in an Instagram Story that she was at a “complete loss” and asked for space to grieve and says she loves Payne “unconditionally and completely.” Cassidy, with whom 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 Brooklyn concert to pay tribute to Payne, saying, “The world cries 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, saying: “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

One Direction’s music returns to the streaming charts

One Direction’s music soared on the Spotify charts after Payne’s death. The band was the most streamed artist in their native Britain on the Thursday after his death and was number 2 on the global Spotify artist chart. The band’s song ‘Night Changes’, one of the biggest hits with a sentimental message about aging and the transience of life, was the sixth most streamed song worldwide on Spotify on October 17. “Night Changes” also ranks at No. 6. on TikTok’s weekly list of popular songs, as fans use it in videos to pay tribute to Payne.

Important background

Payne was a member of One Direction – a band put together by the judges of the British show ‘The X Factor’ in 2010 – along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. They didn’t win the season, but the group enjoyed astronomical success after the show, going on to have stadium tours and a number 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, although Malik had left earlier that 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 opened up about his struggles with addiction in recent years, saying he suffered from suicidal thoughts when he was a member of One Direction. In a 2023 YouTube video, Payne said he spent 100 days in rehab and “had a better handle on life and everything that eluded me” after getting sober. Payne had four chart-topping hits and one Billboard Top 10 hit in his solo career, 2017’s “Strip That Down” with Quavo. He released his most recent song ‘Teardrops’ earlier this year. Payne also had a child with Cheryl Cole in 2017.

Mary Whitfill Roeloffs contributed reporting.

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