Nicole Scherzinger has paid a heartbreaking tribute to Liam Payne following his tragic death aged 31.
The former One Direction star died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the upmarket Palermo district of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires.
The Pussycat Dolls singer, who is currently starring on Broadway, first met Payne when he auditioned on 2010’s The X Factor, and was one of the judges who suggested putting Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik in a band.
Now in a poignant post, the Evening Standard Theatre Award winner recalled the last time she saw Payne, and shared two photos from that day alongside Kelly Rowland, which saw the late British singer looking relaxed and happy.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, she spoke about her grief over his death and penned: “Dear Liam, 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.
“It was such a blessing to get to work with you recently. We shared the same love and passion for music and I will forever remember the meaningful and joyful conversations we had.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.
“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.”
Her heartfelt tribute comes after composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is working with Scherzinger on the Broadway musical Sunset Boulevard, revealed that the stage star had been in contact with Payne on the day he died.
“I suppose something that hasn’t been said, and I suppose I could say, is that of course she mentored Liam, from One Direction,” Webber told Billboard.
“On the Wednesday when he died, she was still texting him that day.”
According to the 76-year-old, Scherzinger, 46, learned the tragic news of Payne’s death shortly before she took the stage to perform in her starring role.
He shared: “She’d just heard that he died. And 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.”
An investigation by police in Argentina into Payne’s death continues with a special investigations unit raiding the Casa Sur hotel on Wednesday night on orders from the public prosecutors' office.
Officers reportedly seized items including computer hard drives and footage from hotel cameras.
