'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Nicole Scherzinger, who served as a judge on The X Factor, shared a heartfelt tribute to the late One Direction star following his tragic passing earlier this month. Payne passed away on Wednesday, October 16, after a fatal fall from a third-floor hotel balcony while staying at the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Scherzinger, credited for the formation of One Direction during her stint as a guest judge on The X Factor in 2010, took to Instagram on Friday, October 25, to share an emotional tribute to the Strip That Down hitmaker. In the post addressed to Liam, the singer and actress wrote:
"I will forever cherish and treasure the time we shared together, from fifteen years ago when One Direction was born, right up until just a few weeks ago."
Trending
"It’s been so hard to process that you’re no longer here": Nicole Scherzinger to Liam Payne
Following Liam Payne's passing, Nicole Scherzinger shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute to the late One Direction star on Friday. The singer paired her tribute with a happy selfie of Payne, herself, and Kelly Rowland. As mentioned earlier, the singer captioned the pictures stating that she will "forever cherish and treasure" the time she shared with Liam.
Nicole Scherzinger shared that it was a "blessing" to get to work with Payne recently and noted how they shared the same "love and passion" for music. The singer further vowed to forever remember the "meaningful and joyful conversations" she shared with Payne.
Nicole Scherzinger and Liam Payne had only recently reunited and were all set to appear together on the upcoming Netflix show, Building the Band alongside AJ McLean from Backstreet Boys and singer Kelly Rowland. Scherzinger was slated to serve as a mentor and judge while Payne and Rowland were to be the Netflix series' sole judges. The singer's Instagram tribute continued:
"It’s been so hard to process that you’re no longer here, but I am grateful to have known your kind heart, sweet soul and character."
She added:
"You brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the lives of those that truly knew you. I will “miss you” my friend and carry you in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. 🙏🏽♥️"
Nicole Scherzinger further explained her tribute to Liam Payne in an appearance on Good Morning America, later on Friday. The singer recalled that Payne and she were "quite close". Scherzinger said:
"We recently did a show together on Netflix called Building the Band. I’m heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Liam. I’m heartbroken for his family and his loved ones and his fans. Liam always led with his heart and with kindness, and I really hope that’s how he’ll always be remembered,"
Nicole Scherzinger alongside Simon Cowell is credited for the formation of One Direction, of which Liam Payne was a member alongside Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. In a YouTube video released in 2022, it was revealed how the band was put together by Scherzinger and Cowell.
In the footage, Simon Cowell was seen suggesting that Liam Payne be a solo act. However, Scherzinger objected. She said at the time:
"I don’t think so. I think that he would definitely shine, he could actually maybe be the leader. One of the leaders of this group."
Nicole Scherzinger addressed the footage during a November 2023 appearance on Sherri. The singer joked that she never thought that the footage would see the light of day as she felt that Simon Cowell would have "burned it". The singer was "super proud" to have played a part in the creation of One Direction and acknowledged that the boy band "made history". The singer explained:
"It’s really cool that it came out because what people are actually seeing is me actually putting them together the way that my mind grapes were working and being like look I just came out of a girl group, I know how successful and how powerful it can be to be a group. We’ve got to join forces,"
Liam Payne is survived by his parents Geoff and Karen Payne, older sisters, Ruth and Nicola, and his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne who he shares with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole.
