Nicole Scherzinger was reportedly texting Liam Payne on the day he died.
The former Pussycat Dolls star was working as a judge on The X Factor when One Direction was formed back in 2010, and they remained close over the years, even working together on planned Netflix show Building The Band.
She’s currently working on a Broadway revival of Sunset Boulevard with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the iconic composer has revealed they were still in contact just before he died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony.
He told Billboard: ‘One thing about Nicole is that once she’s committed to something, she is the most incredible company member and leader of any performer I know.
‘And do you know what? I suppose something that hasn’t been said, and I suppose 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 see Sunset Boulevard], and she’d just heard that he died. And the fact that she even did the show at all is extraordinary.’
He also heaped praise on her professionalism, hailing her as ‘one of the finest performers’ he’s worked with over his own illustrious career.
‘I mean she is an amazing, amazing woman. She is, without any question, one of the finest performers I’ve ever worked with,’ he added.
While Nicole hasn’t confirmed she was texting Payne before his death, she has penned an emotional letter to her late friend on Instagram.
‘Dear Liam,’ she began. ‘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.’
She wrote the note alongside two photos of her, Payne and Kelly Rowland as they came together to work on planned Netflix show Building the Band, aiming to find the next big group.
‘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,’ Nicole continued.
‘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. 🙏🏽♥️’
It’s believed production on the first series wrapped a few weeks before Payne’s death, but Netflix is yet to release a statement on the show’s future.
Last week, Payne fell to his death from the third floor of his Buenos Aires hotel room, with toxicology investigations still ongoing.
On Thursday, a government official told the Associated Press that a police special investigations unit raided the hotel this week under instructions from the public prosecutors’ office.
It’s said officers seized items included hotel camera footage, and computer hard drives.
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