Nicole Scherzinger was texting Liam Payne on the day he died it was revealed today.
The singer, 46, was integral in putting One Direction together when she appeared as a judge on the X Factor in 2010 and she has said she will ‘forever cherish and treasure’ the time they had together.
Liam, 31, died last week after falling 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, leaving fans of the band from all around the world distraught.
And taking to Instagram with a beaming picture of herself, Liam and Kelly Rowland, Nicole 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.’
The threesome had wrapped filming for new Netflix show Building The Band just two months before his tragic death in Argentina.
Nicole Scherzinger revealed she was texting Liam Payne on the day he died as she paid tribute to her X Factor mentee with sweet photos on Instagram on Friday
Liam, Kelly Rowland and Nicole (pictured) had wrapped their new Netflix show Building The Band just two months before his tragic death in Argentina last week
She wrote: ‘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 continued in her post: ‘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.
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‘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.’
Meanwhile Nicole has been praised by theatre guru Andrew Lloyd Webber for retaining her composure and still making it on stage for the press night of Sunset Blvd on New York’s Broadway just hours after she heard Liam had fatally fallen from his hotel balcony.
Andrew told Billboard magazine: ‘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 Sunset], 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.
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The singer, 47, was integral in putting One Direction together when she appeared as a judge on the X Factor in 2010 (pictured)
Nicole was praised by Andrew Lloyd Webber for retaining her composure and still making it on stage for the press night of Sunset Blvd on New York’s Broadway just hours after Liam’s death
Andrew said: ‘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.’
Netflix have still yet to confirm the future of Liam’s recent show following the tragedy, after reports that filming wrapped with three live shows shot in front of an audience at Aviva Studios in Manchester in late August.
The show finds talented singers from across the nation and places them in groups based solely on musical compatibility, connection, and merit.
The contestants have complete control every step of the way but the judges – Liam Nicole and Kelly – are eager to see how well each singer performs under the pressure of lights, cameras, choreographs and audiences.
Liam fell 45ft from a third-floor balcony into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Argentina’s capital on Wednesday, before medics confirmed his death.
The star had arrived in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy on September 30, staying in Argentina for two weeks after only planning to spend ‘five days’ there .
Police were called to the hotel following reports of an ‘aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol’.
Liam fell 45ft from a third-floor balcony into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Argentina’s capital on Wednesday, before medics confirmed his death
Following a toxicology report on Monday it has now been revealed 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 sound in the hotel’s 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 with forensic investigators seen entering and exiting in white protective suits and blue gloves.
The star was said to have been ‘acting erratically in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop’ before he ‘had to be carried back to his room’, according to local media.
Following a toxicology report on Monday it has now been revealed 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 from toxicology tests of Liam remains have found traces of cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack cocaine and ‘pink cocaine’ – which is a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA.
While tests on the substances – white powder, traces of chemical crystals and prescription medicines – found at his suite at the boutique hotel continue, results from a post mortem of his body have been completed.
It determined that the singer died instantly from multiple injuries after falling 45ft from the third floor.