Naomi Campbell finally breaks silence after Liam Payne's death

Naomi Campbell has broken her silence regarding the untimely death of Liam Payne. The supermodel, 54, shared her thoughts through a poignant comment on Nicole Scherzinger's Instagram post, which was published on Friday, October 25, in honor of Payne.

Scherzinger, 46, reflected on her long friendship with Payne and offered heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Campbell responded to Scherzinger's touching tribute in the comment section by posting a series of emojis.

Payne tragically passed away at the age of 31 on October 16 after falling several stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Campbell and Payne's Rumored Romance

Speculation about a romantic connection between Naomi Campbell and Liam Payne first emerged in early 2019. The two were spotted at multiple high-profile events together, sparking rumors about their relationship.

They were photographed attending a Formula E event in Hong Kong in March 2019 and were also seen at London's National Portrait Gallery during the same month. Adding to the speculation were their flirtatious interactions on social media, which further fueled the dating rumors.

For instance, in January 2019, Campbell commented, "Beautiful soul," on a shirtless photo of Payne, to which the late singer replied under one of Campbell's selfies, "Perfection in a person..." Although the exchanges hinted at a possible romance, both Payne and Campbell remained private about their relationship.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in December 2019, Payne humorously avoided confirming any relationship rumors, joking with host Andy Cohen, "I plead the fifth - it's my right as a human."

Similarly, when Campbell was asked about their rumored romance on The Jonathan Ross Show in March 2019, she declined to comment, stating, "I never discuss my personal life."

Scherzinger's Emotional Tribute to Payne

While Campbell kept her response brief, Nicole Scherzinger shared a much longer and heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne, reflecting on their friendship and collaboration dating back to his early days in One Direction on The X Factor.

In her post, Scherzinger expressed her admiration for Payne, writing, "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."

Alongside the tribute, Scherzinger posted two photos of herself, Payne, and Kelly Rowland, recalling, "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."

Scherzinger also admitted, "It's been so hard to process that you're no longer here ... I will 'miss you' my friend and carry you in my heart."

Campbell's brief yet heartfelt acknowledgment of Payne's passing, along with Scherzinger's emotional message, highlight the lasting impact the singer had on those who knew him, both personally and professionally.