Naomi Campbell has shared her response to the news of Liam Payne’s passing, marking the first time she has commented publicly. The 54-year-old supermodel reacted to a heartfelt tribute from Nicole Scherzinger, who honored Payne with an Instagram post on Friday, Oct. 25. Scherzinger, 46, reflected on her longstanding friendship with Payne, extending condolences to his family and friends. In response, Campbell left a comment symbolizing grief and sympathy with “🕊️💔🕊️🙏🏾.”
Payne, age 31, tragically died on Oct. 16 after reportedly falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as confirmed by the Policía Federal Argentina. PEOPLE has reached out to Campbell’s representatives for further remarks.
Campbell and Payne were romantically linked briefly in early 2019, sparking rumors after they were seen together at various events and exchanged playful messages on social media. In March 2019, the two attended a Formula E event in Hong Kong, and that same month, they were seen at an event at London’s National Portrait Gallery, though not photographed together. The rumored couple left fans curious with flirty Instagram comments, with Campbell once calling Payne a “Beautiful soul,” to which Payne responded to one of her selfies with, “Perfection in a person…”
Neither Campbell nor Payne openly discussed their relationship. On Watch What Happens Live in December 2019, Payne humorously evaded questions, invoking his right to "plead the fifth." Campbell similarly maintained privacy, stating on The Jonathan Ross Show in March 2019, “I never discuss my personal life.”
Scherzinger’s tribute recalls her connection to Payne from their early days together on The X Factor, when she mentored his band, One Direction. “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,” Scherzinger wrote alongside photos of herself with Payne and Kelly Rowland.
She continued, “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. 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.”
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