Naomi Campbell and Liam Payne Getty Images (2)
Naomi Campbell is honoring Liam Payne one week after he died at the age of 31.
The supermodel, 54, took to the comments of Nicole Scherzinger’s Instagram tribute for the late singer on Friday, October 25. Keeping her reaction brief, Campbell shared several emojis, posting, “🕊️💔🕊️🙏🏾.”
Campbell and Payne were first romantically connected in January 2019 after the two exchanged flirty social media comments. “Perfection in a person 🌹 … don’t give me those eyes 👀😘,” Payne commented on an Instagram selfie Campbell shared. After he posted a shirtless mirror pic via his own Instagram, Campbell wrote underneath the pic, “Beautiful Soul❤️.”
The two continued to fuel romance rumors one month later after they were spotted leaving a BAFTAS afterparty within minutes of each other. The pair’s brief relationship reportedly ended in April 2019.
Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died after falling from a third-story hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16. Shortly before his death, a hotel employee informed police that there was a guest “high on drugs” and “trashing” their room, per a 911 call transcript obtained by the BBC. The staff member told police that the guest “may be in danger.”
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti confirmed on October 17 that Payne died of “serious injuries” that were untreatable by the time first responders arrived on the scene. An early autopsy report obtained by Us revealed that the singer died of “multiple traumas” that involved “internal and external hemorrhage.”
Liam Payne Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Additionally, the autopsy ruled out the “involvement of third parties” and revealed that Payne “may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.” ABC News reported on Monday, October 21, that Payne had “multiple drugs” in his system at the time of his death, and that drugs were found in his hotel room. (Payne previously revealed in 2023 that he was 100 days sober after a stint in rehab.)
Fans and celebrities have flooded social media with tributes for the former One Direction member, including Scherzinger, 46, who recently filmed the upcoming Netflix competition series Building the Band with him.
One Direction alum Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31. That evening, Us Weekly confirmed Payne had fallen to his death from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The singer had sustained a cranial fracture and other serious injuries that were too severe for treatment. Local emergency responders […]
“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,” Scherzinger — who helped form One Direction on The X Factor UK in 2010 — captioned selfies she took with Payne and Kelly Rowland via Instagram on Friday. “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.”
She continued: “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 🙏🏽♥️.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
