Nicole Scherzinger has shared a moving photo rekindling the final moments she spent with Liam Payne, who tragically fell to his death from a hotel balcony on the third floor in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances around the former One Direction star's sudden passing. Reports state that the 31-year-old singer was believed to have been under the influence of substances at the time of his fall, the Mirror reports.
His grieving father Geoff is currently in Argentina assisting investigators. Nicole originally encountered Liam during his 2010 audition for The X Factor where she was a part of the judging panel that brought together Liam, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.
On Thursday, a week on from Liam's heartbreaking death, she took to social media to express her sorrow. In her heartfelt message, Nicole reminisced about their journey from the start of One Direction fifteen years ago to their last meeting just weeks prior, highlighting the bond they shared.
She wrote: "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. 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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The photo she shared depicted Liam looking at ease and cheerful as he posed with Nicole and Kelly Rowland. The former Pussycat Dolls star added: "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."
Nicole and Liam's friendship dates back to 2010, when he auditioned for The X Factor and was grouped together by the judges, with Nicole acting as a guest judge and the brains behind forming the band, while Cheryl Cole was battling malaria.
Nicole worked closely with Liam and his bandmates, and it emerged after his death that she had been in contact with the singer on the day he passed away in Argentina. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is collaborating with Nicole on the Broadway musical Sunset Blvd., spoke about Nicole's relationship with Liam in a Billboard interview.
He revealed: "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."
Andrew revealed that Nicole found out about Liam's passing just before she was due to perform in New York, yet she still managed to deliver an outstanding performance despite her grief.
He praised: "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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