Trigger warning: This article contains references to a person’s death.
Nicole Scherzinger, best known for her role in the Pussycat Dolls, was reportedly in contact with One Direction star Liam Payne on the day of his tragic death. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is currently working with Scherzinger on the Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard, shared the information in an interview published Thursday.
According to Weber, Scherzinger had remained close to Payne as a mentor and had been exchanging messages with him until shortly before news of his death was received.
Andrew Lloyd Webber spoke openly about the relationship between Payne and Scherzinger, talking about his role as a mentor to the young star.
“I think there’s something that hasn’t been said, and I think I can say, that he definitely guided Liam away from One Direction,” Weber shared in a Billboard interview. He then revealed that Scherzinger had been messaging Payne on the same day she died on October 16.
Weber added, “She was still messaging him that day.” Scherzinger reportedly learned of Payne’s passing just as she was set to perform on stage in her lead role for Sunset Boulevard. “The fact that he even did the show is extraordinary,” Weber said. I mean, she’s a wonderful, wonderful woman.
Scherzinger and Payne’s connection began in 2010 on the reality talent show The X Factor UK. At the time, Scherzinger was a judge alongside Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, and it was under his guidance that One Direction was formed.
Scherzinger was instrumental in bringing the band together. In behind-the-scenes footage released in 2022, Scherzinger pitched the idea of combining Payne and four other contestants, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, into a boy band rather than eliminating them.
Scherzinger commented at the time, “He’s too talented to be missed and he has just the right look and the right charisma on stage.” He said they are like little stars. You can’t get rid of little stars. You put them all together. His vision led to the creation of One Direction, which achieved unprecedented global success until the band’s disbandment in 2015.
Shortly before Payne passed away, he and Scherzinger reportedly collaborated on a new project for Netflix called Building the Band. In this unscripted series, Scherzinger served as both judge and mentor, drawing inspiration from her experiences on The X Factor.
Production on the series was completed in August, and is expected to give fans a look at the process behind creating a successful music group.
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