Nicole Scherzinger has paid tribute to the late Liam Payne as she wrote that she will “forever treasure and cherish” the time they had together.
The 47-year-old singer was instrumental in putting One Direction together when she appeared as a judge on the X Factor in 2010 and has now admitted the pair were texting on the day he died.
Liam, 31, died last week after plunging 13 meters into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires from the third floor, leaving fans of the band around the world distraught.
And after Nicole posted a beaming photo of herself, Liam and Kelly Rowland on Instagram, she wrote: ‘Dear Liam, I will forever cherish and cherish the time we shared together, from fifteen years ago when One Direction was born, to just a year ago. a few weeks ago.’
The trio had completed filming new Netflix show Building The Band just two months before his tragic death in Argentina.
Nicole Scherzinger has said she will ‘cherish and cherish’ their time together as she paid emotional tribute to Liam Payne as it was revealed they were texting on the day he died
Liam, Kelly Rowland and Nicole (pictured) had wrapped up their new Netflix show Building The Band just two months before his tragic death last week in Argentina
She continued in her post, “It was a blessing 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 has been so hard to process that you are gone, but I am grateful to have gotten to know your kind heart, sweet soul and character.
“You brought so much joy, light and laughter into the lives of those who truly knew you. I will miss you my friend and carry you in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.”
Meanwhile, Nicole is being praised by theater guru Andrew Lloyd Webber for keeping her composure and still being on stage for the press night of Sunset Blvd on Broadway in New York, just hours after learning of Liam’s fatal shooting from his hotel balcony fallen.
Andrew told Billboard magazine, “One thing about Nicole is that once she commits to something, she is the most incredible company member and leader of any artist I know.
‘And you know what? I guess something that hasn’t been said yet, and I guess I could say, is that of course she mentored Liam, from One Direction.
“On the Wednesday when he died, she was still texting him that day, and [that evening] the reviewers came in [to Sunset]she had just heard that he died.
“And the fact that she did the show at all is extraordinary. I mean, she’s a wonderful, wonderful woman.
She wrote: ‘It has been so hard to process that you are gone, but I am grateful to have known your kind heart, sweet soul and character.’
The 47-year-old singer played a key role in putting One Direction together when she appeared as a judge on the X Factor in 2010.
Liam fell from a third-floor balcony from a height of 13 meters in the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital on Wednesday, before doctors confirmed his death
“She is without a doubt one of the best artists I have ever worked with.”
Netflix is yet to confirm the future of Liam’s recent show following the tragedy, following reports that it was shot in front of an audience at Aviva Studios in Manchester at the end of August.
The show finds talented singers from across the country and places them into groups based solely on musical compatibility, connection and merit.
The contestants are in complete control every step of the way, but the judges – Liam Nicole and Kelly – are keen to see how well each singer performs under the pressure of lights, cameras, choreographers and audiences.
Liam fell from a third-floor balcony from a height of 13 meters in the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital on Wednesday, before doctors confirmed his death.
The star had arrived in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy on September 30, spending two weeks in Argentina after planning to spend “five days” there.
Police were called to the hotel after reports of an ‘aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol’.
Following a toxicology report on Monday, it has now been revealed that Liam had traces of a combination of drugs in his system – including ‘pink cocaine’ (pictured days before his death in Buenos Aires)
Shortly afterwards, workers heard a loud noise in the hotel courtyard before the Wolverhampton-born singer’s body was discovered just after 5pm local time.
Shocked fans gathered outside after police cordoned off the area as forensic examiners entered and exited the premises wearing white hazmat suits and blue gloves.
According to local media, the star allegedly ‘behaved erratically in the hotel lobby and broke his laptop’ before having to be ‘carried back to his room’.
Following a toxicology report on Monday, it has now been revealed that Liam had traces of a combination of drugs in his system, including ‘pink cocaine’.
Argentine police and prosecutors investigating the tragedy are treating it as an “inconclusive death” – as they continue to hunt the drug dealer who supplied him that night.
Preliminary results of toxicology tests on Liam’s remains have found traces of cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack cocaine and ‘pink cocaine’ – a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA.
While tests on the substances – white powder, trace amounts of chemical crystals and prescription drugs – found in his suite at the boutique hotel continue, the results of a post-mortem of his body have been completed.
It was determined that the singer died immediately from multiple injuries after falling 45 feet from the third floor.