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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Liam Payne's heartbroken sister pens tribute as his final TV appearance airs on Netflix nine months after his death
LIAM Payne's devastated sister paid tribute to the One Direction star as his final TV appearance aired on Netflix - nine months after his tragic death. Nicola shared a heartfelt message on social media today, marking exactly nine months since the former One Direction star died in Argentina. Advertisement 5 Liam Payne's sister Nicola has shared a heartbreaking tribute six months after his death Credit: Getty 5 Liam pictured with his sisters Nicola (left) and Ruth (right) Credit: np2788 5 Liam s a judge alongside Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger in Building The Band Credit: TNI Press 5 Netflix released the show this month Credit: TNI Press Posting just hours after 'I still find it incredibly hard to process what happened. 'I'm not sure I ever fully will, or even want to. 'Liam, you are the most incredible person. For those of us lucky enough to know and love you, our lives were truly blessed. Advertisement READ MORE ON LIAM 'Today, the world gets to see just a glimpse of your passion and talent and wow, you are amazing in this show.' She continued: 'You cared so deeply about the people around you. You wanted to make a difference, and you are lighting up that stage like you were born to do. 'You were made to be a judge, to guide, to encourage, and to let your voice be heard. Watching you in this show, I've never been more proud. 'I just wish you got to see it. It's everything we knew it would be when we were at filming.' Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Nicola revealed how emotional the project had become, writing: 'This show will forever hold a special place in my heart because it's one of the last times I saw you, and I got to witness you shine so bloody brightly, but it's also allowed me to still feel close to you. "I love you so much, and I miss you even more. I hate that this happened.' Liam Payne's sister calls star 'her angel' in emotional tribute saying 'we will make sure Bear knows about his daddy' The Netflix series was filmed before Liam's sudden passing and dropped on the platform on July 9. It sees Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean host the competition alongside lead mentor Nicole Scherzinger, with Kelly Rowland and Liam joining as guest judges. Advertisement Fans were left in tears just five minutes into the first episode after the show aired a moving tribute to Liam. AJ McLean opened the series with a powerful message: 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne.' The screen then faded to a montage of clips and images of the singer, with AJ continuing: '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. I Advertisement "It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.' It comes hours after She poured her heart out on TikTok and admitted she worried Liam wouldn't recognise her if they met again in the afterlife. 'Today marks nine months since Liam has left this world,' she said in the video. Advertisement 'I don't know if this is just a message for myself, or for Liam, or for anybody that's navigating through grief that needs to hear this.' Fighting back sobs, Kate told followers she had recently cut her hair, got new tattoos, and pierced her ears. She added: 'Liam's never seen me with hair this short. He's never seen me with all these tattoos. 'And then I start thinking deeper into it… I don't know how heaven works, but is Liam going to look the same way that he looked the last time I saw him?' Advertisement Kate - who dated Liam for two years and lived with him - said one day, when she's old, Liam might not recognise her. 'When my time comes, will Liam recognise me? I'm going to have wrinkles, white hair, bony hands… how will he find me?' The heartbreaking thought left her in tears, but she recalled a comforting moment with a friend who reassured her: 'Of course he's going to recognise you… he's going to be so glad you lived.' 5 Kate Cassidy shared her biggest fear about growing old without Liam Payne today Advertisement
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Liam Payne's final appearance: His emotional turn as Netflix's 'Building the Band' judge
Liam Payne, a guest judge on Netflix's "Building the Band," joked that One Direction members were 'amazing dancers.' One Direction member Liam Payne, a judge on "Building the Band," died at 31, just weeks after filming the Netflix competition series last fall. "Band" marks his final appearance. As Liam Payne gave feedback to the next generation of boy bands and girl groups during his guest judging debut on Netflix's "Building The Band," he took a moment to poke fun at his own former boy band, One Direction. After the newly formed group Midnight 'Til Morning sang a rousing rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" in Episode 7 (now streaming), Payne dinged the guys for their unchoreographed, helter-skelter movement on the stage. "We're in power ballad. We're looking for air grabs. Boy band central, baby," Payne told the four men. He added that Shane Appell's back flip "felt a tiny little bit misplaced." When Appell explained they were more instrumentalists than dancers, Payne replied that One Direction had stage presence while subverting the expectations of an earlier generation's dance-machine boy bands (like series host AJ McLean's Backstreet Boys). "We're amazing dancers, obviously, in One Direction. It's what we're known for," he cheekily told Appell. "George Michael was amazing at controlling an arena from just standing center and literally just doing that." Payne then stood up from his seat and swayed his hips confidently side to side in demonstration. Payne, alongside Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls, watched six newly formed groups perform in front of a live audience for the first time and delivered constructive criticism, mostly centered on urging more onstage chemistry. "You've really got to come out on stage and claim your moment. Make a moment with these people; make a moment with us, (and) make a moment with yourselves," he told the contestants. "Building The Band," Payne's last TV appearance, was taped in September 2024, just weeks before his death. The 31-year-old singer died Oct. 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel. As part of One Direction – which Scherzinger helped form on the U.K. version of "The X-Factor" in 2010 – Payne broke sales, Billboard chart and streaming records. "Through his presence we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice," McLean said in a message that opened "Band's" first episode. "It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family." 'Making the Band' contestants fangirl over Liam Payne The new 10-episode Netflix competition show, which streams its final batch of episodes July 23, challenged dozens of young singers to form groups with strangers without ever seeing them, "Love is Blind" style. In episodes 5 through 7, the six acts decided on their names: 3Quency, Soulidified, SZN4, Siren Society, Sweet Seduction and Midnight 'Til Morning. SZN4, with Donzell Taggart, Aaliyah Rose, Cameron Goode and Katie Roeder, is the only mixed-gender group. After the proficient yet tenuously connected Alison Ogden, Elise Kristine and Haley Gosserand from Sweet Seduction kicked off the night with some tight choreography and soaring vocals for Mariah Carey's "Emotions," they were excited to get feedback. When Payne greeted them, the trio enthusiastically waved back in unison. "Hi, Liam! I love you!" Gosserand gushed, evoking a chuckle from Payne. Earlier she'd revealed One Direction posters once decorated the wall above her bed. He wanted to "to see more togetherness," perhaps intuiting the power imbalance among the group, but "other than that, fantastic," he pronounced the girl group. During the judges' critiques, Mason Watts from Midnight Til Morning told Payne his family had won a competition in Australia to see One Direction from the front row at Madison Square Garden. "My sisters are obsessed with you," he said. "And ever since that moment, I wanted to be in a group. And it's kind of a full-circle moment to be here with a group and performing in front of you, so thank you, man." Payne, ever the good sport, waved at one of the cameras to say, "Hi sisters!" Later, he turned to Rowland. "I feel all warm," Payne said. Five people, including hotel employees and Payne's friend Roger Nores, who was staying with him at the hotel, were charged in the aftermath. Charges were dropped against all but two of the employees, who allegedly supplied Payne with drugs in the days before his death.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Liam Payne's heartbroken sister pens tribute as his final TV appearance airs on Netflix nine months after his death
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIAM Payne's devastated sister paid tribute to the One Direction star as his final TV appearance aired on Netflix - nine months after his tragic death. Nicola shared a heartfelt message on social media today, marking exactly nine months since the former One Direction star died in Argentina. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Liam Payne's sister Nicola has shared a heartbreaking tribute six months after his death Credit: Getty 5 Liam pictured with his sisters Nicola (left) and Ruth (right) Credit: np2788 5 Liam s a judge alongside Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger in Building The Band Credit: TNI Press 5 Netflix released the show this month Credit: TNI Press Posting just hours after Building The Band dropped on Netflix, Nicola wrote: '9 months ago today, our lives changed forever. 'I still find it incredibly hard to process what happened. 'I'm not sure I ever fully will, or even want to. 'Liam, you are the most incredible person. For those of us lucky enough to know and love you, our lives were truly blessed. 'Today, the world gets to see just a glimpse of your passion and talent and wow, you are amazing in this show.' She continued: 'You cared so deeply about the people around you. You wanted to make a difference, and you are lighting up that stage like you were born to do. 'You were made to be a judge, to guide, to encourage, and to let your voice be heard. Watching you in this show, I've never been more proud. 'I just wish you got to see it. It's everything we knew it would be when we were at filming.' Nicola revealed how emotional the project had become, writing: 'This show will forever hold a special place in my heart because it's one of the last times I saw you, and I got to witness you shine so bloody brightly, but it's also allowed me to still feel close to you. "I love you so much, and I miss you even more. I hate that this happened.' Liam Payne's sister calls star 'her angel' in emotional tribute saying 'we will make sure Bear knows about his daddy' The Netflix series was filmed before Liam's sudden passing and dropped on the platform on July 9. It sees Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean host the competition alongside lead mentor Nicole Scherzinger, with Kelly Rowland and Liam joining as guest judges. Fans were left in tears just five minutes into the first episode after the show aired a moving tribute to Liam. AJ McLean opened the series with a powerful message: 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne.' The screen then faded to a montage of clips and images of the singer, with AJ continuing: '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. I "It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.' It comes hours after Liam's girlfriend Kate Cassidy broke down in an emotional video as she sent a heartfelt message to the late star. She poured her heart out on TikTok and admitted she worried Liam wouldn't recognise her if they met again in the afterlife. 'Today marks nine months since Liam has left this world,' she said in the video. 'I don't know if this is just a message for myself, or for Liam, or for anybody that's navigating through grief that needs to hear this.' Fighting back sobs, Kate told followers she had recently cut her hair, got new tattoos, and pierced her ears. She added: 'Liam's never seen me with hair this short. He's never seen me with all these tattoos. 'And then I start thinking deeper into it… I don't know how heaven works, but is Liam going to look the same way that he looked the last time I saw him?' Kate - who dated Liam for two years and lived with him - said one day, when she's old, Liam might not recognise her. 'When my time comes, will Liam recognise me? I'm going to have wrinkles, white hair, bony hands… how will he find me?' The heartbreaking thought left her in tears, but she recalled a comforting moment with a friend who reassured her: 'Of course he's going to recognise you… he's going to be so glad you lived.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Liam Payne's heartbroken sister pens tribute as his final TV appearance airs on Netflix nine months after his death
LIAM Payne's devastated sister paid tribute to the One Direction star as his final TV appearance aired on Netflix - nine months after his tragic death. Nicola shared a heartfelt message on social media today, marking exactly nine months since the former One Direction star died in Argentina. 5 5 5 5 Posting just hours after Building The Band dropped on Netflix, Nicola wrote: '9 months ago today, our lives changed forever. 'I still find it incredibly hard to process what happened. 'I'm not sure I ever fully will, or even want to. 'Liam, you are the most incredible person. For those of us lucky enough to know and love you, our lives were truly blessed. 'Today, the world gets to see just a glimpse of your passion and talent and wow, you are amazing in this show.' She continued: 'You cared so deeply about the people around you. You wanted to make a difference, and you are lighting up that stage like you were born to do. 'You were made to be a judge, to guide, to encourage, and to let your voice be heard. Watching you in this show, I've never been more proud. 'I just wish you got to see it. It's everything we knew it would be when we were at filming.' Nicola revealed how emotional the project had become, writing: 'This show will forever hold a special place in my heart because it's one of the last times I saw you, and I got to witness you shine so bloody brightly, but it's also allowed me to still feel close to you. "I love you so much, and I miss you even more. I hate that this happened.' Liam Payne's sister calls star 'her angel' in emotional tribute saying 'we will make sure Bear knows about his daddy' The Netflix series was filmed before Liam's sudden passing and dropped on the platform on July 9. It sees Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean host the competition alongside lead mentor Nicole Scherzinger, with Kelly Rowland and Liam joining as guest judges. Fans were left in tears just five minutes into the first episode after the show aired a moving tribute to Liam. AJ McLean opened the series with a powerful message: 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne.' The screen then faded to a montage of clips and images of the singer, with AJ continuing: '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. I "It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.' It comes hours after Liam's girlfriend Kate Cassidy broke down in an emotional video as she sent a heartfelt message to the late star. She poured her heart out on TikTok and admitted she worried Liam wouldn't recognise her if they met again in the afterlife. 'Today marks nine months since Liam has left this world,' she said in the video. 'I don't know if this is just a message for myself, or for Liam, or for anybody that's navigating through grief that needs to hear this.' Fighting back sobs, Kate told followers she had recently cut her hair, got new tattoos, and pierced her ears. She added: 'Liam's never seen me with hair this short. He's never seen me with all these tattoos. 'And then I start thinking deeper into it… I don't know how heaven works, but is Liam going to look the same way that he looked the last time I saw him?' Kate - who dated Liam for two years and lived with him - said one day, when she's old, Liam might not recognise her. 'When my time comes, will Liam recognise me? I'm going to have wrinkles, white hair, bony hands… how will he find me?' The heartbreaking thought left her in tears, but she recalled a comforting moment with a friend who reassured her: 'Of course he's going to recognise you… he's going to be so glad you lived.' 5
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean on what helped him overcome being a ‘chronic relapser' after narrowly avoiding jail
Though AJ McLean has had his share of public ups and downs, the Backstreet Boy star — who has been open about his struggle with addiction throughout the years — has proven that recovery is possible. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the proud father of two — who stars as the host of Netflix's singing competition series, "Building The Band" — got candid about the challenges he's faced within his sobriety journey, detailed the lessons he's learned along the way and explained why he doesn't have "another relapse" in him. "I'm sober today. I can't tell you what's going to happen tomorrow. And I was sober yesterday. I stay in the now. I stay in the moment. I take everything in," McLean, who is gearing up to celebrate four years of sobriety this fall, said. "It is the age-old saying of stopping and smelling the roses. I actually physically stop and smell flowers. I have a different confidence — not arrogance, not ego — that I've never had. And it's a confidence that is empowering." "That is because of the work I've put in and continue to and will have to do the rest of my days in existence," he continued. "It doesn't stop when you stop doing the work, when you stop spreading your experience, strength and hope, reaching out to other addicts and other people in the world that may be suffering from whatever, if you stop doing that, is when s--- goes south. That's when the ego becomes the villain, and it takes over." In 2021, McLean referred to himself as a "chronic relapser" after recalling a moment in which he drank alcohol shortly after completing rehab. "I can do short bursts and I'm OK. Because even when I would relapse, I wouldn't go on a bender," he told host Alexis Haines during an episode of the "Recovering from Reality" podcast. "I am a chronic relapser, but I've never gone for like a month straight of just drinking and partying. It's been like one night, and then I'm sober for a week or two. And then it's one night. It was always back and forth." The pop star, who has been in and out of sobriety for years, said he's "dodged more bullets" in his life than people think. "The drugs and alcohol, for me, that was a Band-Aid. I suffered from something my best friend calls 'Piece of s---ism.' I had no self-esteem." WATCH: BACKSTREET BOYS' AJ MCLEAN 'DODGED MORE BULLETS' THAN HE'D LIKE TO ADMIT IN HIS JOURNEY TO SOBRIETY "I don't have another relapse in me," he admitted to Fox News Digital. "It will not end the lucky way it has ended in the past when I've dodged bullets and never went to jail, never got a DUI. I'm pretty sure the last time I did drugs, there was fentanyl in there. I'm still here talking to you. I've dodged more bullets than I'd like to." While McLean — who shares two daughters, Elliot, 12, and Lyric, 8, with his estranged wife, Rochelle — knows that most of his past is public knowledge, he hopes to control the narrative by having honest and raw conversations with his children. "My girls are very smart, and I've been able to be brutally honest, to a certain degree, about my past," he said. "I don't want to scare them… I want them to know enough about their dad that when they're allowed social media, when they're allowed these things, they don't read it and get a different perception. I want them to hear it from the horse's mouth." As a member of one of the most popular boy bands in history, fame inevitably took a toll on McLean —who lost sight of who he was somewhere along the way. "That's really the root of the biggest problem," he said. "The drugs and alcohol, for me, that was a Band-Aid. I suffered from something my best friend calls 'Piece of s---ism.' I had no self-esteem. So you won't do esteemable things without self-esteem and the growth that has happened from that departure to now. You ask my bandmates, you ask my family, I am a different person. I am the person that's always been there. It just got kind of stifled." "I don't want to stifle that person anymore," he continued. "I know that AJ McLean is a member of a band, but it doesn't define me. I'm Alexander James. That is who I am. AJ is a character in a band that I play that I'm very grateful, has had a 32-year career and hopefully more. And I'm beyond grateful for that. But it doesn't make me who I am. It doesn't define me." Kickstarting his career as a pop star at just 16 years old, McLean said he and "Building the Band" co-star Liam Payne shared many similarities — both personally and professionally. "We did share a lot of parallels, even though there's a huge age gap," he said of the late One Direction member, who tragically died at the age of 31 from falling off a hotel balcony in October. Though Payne, who served as a celebrity judge on the Netflix show, faced his own addiction battles throughout the years leading up to his death, McLean said he was fortunate enough to see the late singer at his "truest" self while on set. "There were still a lot of similarities of the highs and lows, but I got to see him in his truest form, and he lit up any room he walked into," McLean said. "He was a gentleman. He was funny. He was super-talented, so well-spoken to of these bands, giving his feedback, could get his point across without ever sounding condescending or discouraging." "He always finished with a positive anecdote or a positive comment to keep these bands inspired and to not lose hope or get frustrated. And it takes a real stand-up person to do that. And that's what he was. He was an absolute stand-up individual, talented beyond talented." The show, which also stars Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland and Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, will see gifted singers vie for a chance to form the next great music group sight unseen, leaving looks out of the equation. "What I love so much about it, unlike other music competition shows, it's twofold," McLean said. "One, it's a cash prize. There's no getting stuck in a box with a major record deal and potentially getting shelved or being told what to wear and what kind of music to do and who's the frontman or frontwoman. These bands get to control their own destiny, and it gives the power back to the artist. So that's a huge plus for me. While McLean — who is also gearing up for another Las Vegas residency with the Backstreet Boys this summer and working on solo music that will be released sporadically throughout the end of the year — is grateful for his past, he's very much looking forward to the future. "I can tell you, honestly, it has been an incredible journey," he said.
