Liam Payne's ex-girlfriend Danielle Peazer has broken her silence after the death of the One Direction star.
The 36-year-old influencer shared a statement on her Instagram. She met the 31-year-old singer while she worked as a backing dancer on X-Factor. She went on to date Liam for two years between 2010 and 2012.
Liam died on Wednesday night after falling from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ex-girlfriend Danielle wrote: "Over the last few days I've been trying to process the news of Liam's death. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to call, text, or DM sending condolences and offering support. I'm so grateful and it's helped more than you know.
"In time I will share more, but right now I don't feel mentally strong enough to face the reality of what's happened. Like all of us, I too am grieving, and need to take some time to do that privately. It's a heartbreaking time, which has already been made so much more challenging due to receiving negative and misinformed comments as well as pre-conceived judgement from those who don't personally know me, Liam or anything about our relationship over the last 14 years."
She concluded: "I will be back soon when I'm ready, but until then please take care of yourselves and each other."
Danielle and Liam reconciled in 2022 and were seen leaving the Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch, London, together. They were also spotted together at hotspots Chiltern Firehouse and Annabel's. Their romance was short lived with Danielle moving on with former Capital FM DJ Sonny Jay, who won Dancing On Ice in 2021.
Danielle and Sonny, 36, welcomed a baby girl this year.
Danielle's statement comes after Liam's sister Ruth Gibbins shared a tear-jerking tribute to the late singer.
Ruth said she was "in awe" of her brother's talent and said all he wanted to do was be loved for his music but the world was "not always kind" to him.
Ms Gibbins wrote: "My brain is struggling to catch up with what's happening and I don't understand where you've gone. What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I'm with you with anyone else. I'm always in awe of your talent, it should be illegal to be so talented and just have the ability to not only be good at things but be bloody great at everything you attempt, without even knowing you're absolutely smashing it each time."
She continued: "I don't feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you and quite often over the last few years, you've had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you. You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time."
Ruth ended her moving message: "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. One last time I need you to know, I'm here if you need anything, I'd drive to the end of the universe to bring you back." She also said how her family would "take care of Bear", Liam's seven-year-old son, who he shares with ex Cheryl Tweedy.
Liam's parents flew out to Argentina to bring back their son's body. His dad was seen at the hotel in Buenos Aires where he died on Wednesday.
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