
Cheryl's heartbreak over Liam Payne's final show
The 31-year-old singer / songwriter filmed Building The Band before his tragic death following a fall from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year and Cheryl, 42, the mother of his eight-year-old son Bear, has reportedly found it difficult to deal with the release of the show.
A source told the Mirror: 'It is very sad for Cheryl. She's very proud that Liam's final project is now available for the world to see, but obviously it's heartbreaking, too, after Liam's death. It's a poignant reminder to Cheryl – and to his fans – of how much more Liam could have done with his life. But that potential was tragically cut short.'
Cheryl – who dated Liam from 2016 to 2018 – is said to be worried about how the show will affect Bear.
The insider explained: 'He had so much going for him, as well as being a devoted father to Bear. It's another reason why Cheryl wanted to continue with her own TV career – to show Bear that there is life after losing Liam, that you can be strong and that he can pick himself up. He can be anything he wants to be in life.'
Building The Band host AJ McClean paid a poignant tribute to Liam at the beginning of the first episode.
He said: 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend, Liam Payne.
'Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and, through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Lanna Hill: Luxury brands trade away exclusivity to target the masses as shown by new Brad Pitt F1 film
Once upon a time, Formula 1 didn't want American fans. It didn't need them. A global sport with its heart in old money Europe and a tightly controlled image, F1 cultivated exclusivity and cultural specificity with intent and efficacy: the sport was always seen as expensive, elusive, and off-limits to the casual observer. But that's changed. This week, the new Formula 1 film hit cinemas — a big budget, wide-release Hollywood production starring one of the most recognisable icons of all-American virility in Brad Pitt, all designed to convert the masses. It follows a string of moves that show the sport isn't just loosening its grip on exclusivity — it's trading on the idea of access. And it's working. The films follows hot on the heels of the wildly successful Netflix series Drive to Survive. Together, they form part of a much bigger strategy — one that's turning a previously insular, tradition-bound sport into a global cultural force. US viewership of F1 nearly doubled after the show's launch, which drew up to 16.9 million viewers per episode. Gen Z and female audiences for F1 have jumped 31 per cent and 46 per cent respectively — emerging markets that are highly valuable to advertisers. And social media engagement? Up 49 per cent year on year, making it the fastest growing sport online globally. But here's the twist: the luxury is still there. It's just repackaged. VIP zones, private member partnerships, and hospitality experiences costing tens of thousands haven't gone anywhere. They're now just surrounded by more content, more interaction, and more seemingly open access points. The champagne is as expensive as it always was — there are just more people Instagramming it from outside the fence. This isn't unique to F1. Luxury brands across sectors are experimenting with the balance of aspiration and accessibility. Louis Vuitton took a bold but calculated risk by appointing Pharrell Williams — a rapper, songwriter and producer, not a designer, as their men's creative director back in 2023. Or how Wimbledon, traditionally inviolable, found itself in headlines when influencer Mia Zelu showed up courtside, sparking debate not because she was or wasn't invited, but because she's not real — she's AI. The controlled proximity is a signature move from the new brand playbook. It's about appearing accessible and more egalitarian, without sacrificing the brand's power or price. It's a very clever and very profitable sleight of hand: repositioning prestige through visibility, not devaluing it through dilution. And let's be honest: some of this is survival. The global economy has reshaped brand behaviour. Broadcast deals in the West have plateaued, and sponsorship dollars are harder won. F1's transformation is, in part, a business decision — one aimed at keeping the sport bankable in an increasingly fragmented attention economy. But there's a bigger takeaway here for leaders, marketers, and businesses of all kinds, especially in Australia, where our appetite for global relevance often outpaces our investment in it. If your brand relies on scarcity alone, it may be in trouble. Today's audiences want behind-the-scenes access, not just a front-row seat. They want luxury with a human edge. And they want to know that access — at least in theory — is possible. Because in 2025, cultural relevance might be the most powerful luxury of all. Lanna Hill is the founder and director of Leverage Media Group


Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Perth Now
Carl Weathers was set for a 'massive part' in Happy Gilmore 2 prior to his death
Carl Weathers was due to have a "massive part" in Happy Gilmore 2 before his death. The Rocky actor passed away in February 2024 at the age of 76 and lead actor Adam Sandler revealed that the sad news meant a "painful change" needed to be made to the forthcoming sequel - even though Carl's alter ego Derick 'Chubbs' Peterson died in the original 1996 golf comedy. Sandler, 58, told Collider: "We had a painful change. Carl Weathers had a massive part. "I would talk to Carl, and we were excited, and then Carl passed away. We had to rewrite a lot of the stuff, and even what the story was. We made a lot of nice references to how great Chubbs was in the movie. That was the biggest change." Weathers was due to appear in the sequel as an early draft of the script had Chubbs visiting Sandler's titular character in his dreams. The 50 First Dates star explained: "In the first version that we came up with, he had a son. He was coming back to me a lot in my dreams, and he had a son who was mad at Happy for causing the death of daddy." Although he was sadly unable to feature in the movie - which will be released on Netflix on July 25 - Sandler and director Kyle Newacheck want the sequel to remember Chubbs' spirit. The filmmaker said: "You can't make Happy Gilmore without Chubbs Peterson. "It doesn't exist. You can be assured his spirit is throughout the film. He may not be by Happy's side anymore, but he's on his shoulder." NFL star Travis Kelce - who is dating pop superstar Taylor Swift - features in the sequel and described it as a "dream come true" to be working with Sandler. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end told The Pat McAfee Show earlier this year: "That was a dream come true. "I thought SNL was going to be the peak of my acting and showman or entertainment career. "Working with Happy Gilmore himself, the Sandman and Happy Productions, it was off the chain." Kelce revealed that he found Sandler to be "every bit as cool off the screen as he is on the screen" during the making of the film. He said: "They're so professional and yet so fun to work with. "I felt like I was working with like the [Chiefs' coach] Andy Reid of the acting world. "[Sandler] is every bit as cool off the screen as he is on the screen. "That was a dream come true. That was awesome." Sandler admitted that the NFL star is "funny and cool as hell" when he confirmed his cameo role in the comedy flick. He told The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: "We have a nice something for Travis. He's gonna come by. "He's a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life. What a big, handsome guy. Funny and cool as hell. He's a stud and he's so funny."


7NEWS
14 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Perth dancer Faith Ward lands ‘dream job' with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Perth dancer, acrobat and model Faith Ward is the envy of cheerleaders around the world after securing her position on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader roster. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are world famous and the Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts, which features the auditioning process and goes behind the scenes of the squad for an entire NFL season, is a global sensation. The dance troop is particularly famous for its showstopping, high-octane routine to AC/DC's Thunderstruck. The double-jointed Ward — who hails from New Zealand but moved to Australia when she was 10 — has been part of the brutal auditioning steps and yesterday revealed that she was one of six rookies that will join the team of 36. After she was presented with her iconic blue crop top, Ward then proceeded to tell her friends and family who were all blown away by the news. Loading Instagram Post 'Telling people I got my dream job,' was the caption on Ward's video, which showed the reactions of her overwhelmed friend. 'The best day of my life 😭😭,' she added. Ward, who has more than 200,000 followers on TikTok, competed against thousands of aspiring cheerleaders that were vying for just six spots on the 36-woman squad, after she successfully made it through a rigorous application process. It began with the wide-eyed dancer sending through dance photos and videos, with each applicant required to learn specific choreography in their auditions before being invited to Texas. After making it through the first trials in June, Ward said, 'no matter the outcome, it'll be amazing to be part of the experience, and making it this far is already just incredible.' Now the hard work has paid off ... fulfilling 'long-term dream' after reaching the pinnacle of the cheerleading world. Born with double-jointed hips, Ward began working as a professional dancer at 18, performing on cruise ships — but now she will be on the big stage, in front of more than 90,000 people every game. The cheerleaders that are affectionately called 'America's Sweethearts', support the American Football team the Dallas Cowboys, undoubtedly the biggest sports franchise in the world. Despite the national pride the group carry for America, Ward isn't the first from Down Under to don the Lone Star — with the past DCC alumni including Aussies Angela Nicotera Brown and Jinelle Esther. The hard work for Ward has only just begun, as members of the squad are required to put in hours equivalent to that of a full-time job — but she comes in at a golden time after the squad received a significant pay rise this off season. Following heavy public scrutiny, the Cowboys franchise — which is worth more than $15b — has given the cheerleaders a 400 per cent pay rise, meaning Ward will pocket a salary of around $77,000. But many argue the cheerleaders deserve more considering the time and effort they put in to keep up with the physical requirements of the role. As the football team enters training camp, the cheerleaders will be entering their own with the first home preseason game for the Cowboys scheduled for August 17, before their season officially kicks off at their home turf in Arlington, Texas on September 15.