Liam Payne's X Factor co-star claims 'nothing has been done' since singer's death

Katie Waissel has emotional meltdown and threatens to leave Celebrity Big Brother

Former X Factor star Katie Waissel has called on showbiz bosses to take the welfare of stars working in the entertainment industry more seriously after Liam Payne’s tragic death.

The singer featured on the same season of The X Factor as the One Direction member did, and has slammed staff from the show for “ridiculing” her when she was battling with negative messages from trolls.

She previously showed the BBC emails where she was labelled a “drama queen” when experiencing increasing panic after receiving death threats from members of the public who hated her appearance on the talent show.

Now she has lamented that the music industry has not issued an appropriate response to Payne’s death.

Waissel currently runs a company called OWHL (Overseeing the Welfare, Human Rights, and Liberty in the Creative Industry) and has asked for support from the public in the form of donations.

X Factor star Katie Waissel has spoken out about Liam Payne's death (Image: Getty)

She took to social media with a statement about how her project could do more to save artists like Payne, who sadly fell from a balcony in Argentina after a drugs binge in October.

She wrote: “We first met in 2010 on The X Factor, where Liam became my confidant and my rock, offering unwavering support during some of my darkest moments on that journey.

“Liam was kind, with a pure heart, a sharp mind, and the wisdom of an old soul.

“His tragic passing not only leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who loved him but also serves as a painful reminder of the systemic neglect that persists in the industry.

The singer blames the music industry for artists struggling with their mental health (Image: Getty)

“There are those who had a responsibility to provide the care and support necessary for the well-being of young artists, but too often, the focus remained on profits rather than the people.

“This industry has treated talent like commodities, and the negligence of duty of care has once again led to a heart-wrenching loss.”

She added: “We've been calling out the industry after losing Liam. Still nothing is done.”

Waissel is hoping to raise £2k which would allow her to develop safety tools for OWHL.

She has said that the platform will be a safe place where artists and professionals from the music industry will be able to connect “with trust and transparency”.

Liam Payne died in October after falling from his hotel balcony (Image: Getty)

ITV has claimed it had "robust measures" in place to protect the wellbeing of X Factor contestants.

A spokesperson told the BBC last year: "Duty of care is of the utmost importance to us, and we always take contributor welfare extremely seriously.

"During the 2010 series of The X Factor, there were robust measures in place to ensure everyone involved in the making of the programme was supported throughout their experience and beyond including a dedicated welfare team made up of psychologists, doctors, welfare producers and independent legal and management advisors with no time limit on aftercare once the show had aired."

Express.co.uk has contacted ITV for further comment.