close
close

Naomi Campbell reacts to Liam Payne's death after briefly dating


Naomi Campbell reacts to Liam Payne's death after briefly dating

Naomi Campbell reacted to the tragic death of Liam Payne, five years after they were reportedly briefly together.

The supermodel left a message on her friend Nicole Scherzinger's post on Instagram on Friday, paying tribute to the former One Direction member.

“🕊️💔🕊️🙏🏾,” Campbell, 54, simply commented beneath the photos of Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Payne and her “Building the Band” judge Kelly Rowland.

Naomi Campbell, pictured here in September, commented on the death of Liam Payne. Getty Images
The supermodel left a few emojis under her friend Nicole Scherzinger's Instagram post on Friday as a tribute to the late singer. Instagram

The fashion icon and the “Strip That Down” singer, who had a 23-year age gap, reportedly dated for four months in 2019.

They first sparked romance rumors in January after leaving flirty comments on each other's Instagram posts.

“Perfection in a person… don’t give me those eyes,” Payne wrote to Campbell at the time.

She went on to call him a “beautiful soul ❤️,” to which he cheekily replied, “It takes one to know one 😘.”

Payne, pictured here in February 2019, reportedly had an affair with Campbell from January to April 2019. AFP via Getty Images
Pictured here in February 2019, the British model and the former One Direction member left flirty comments on each other's social media pages. Getty Images

The then 48-year-old British catwalker and the 25-year-old English crooner were spotted at Nigerian artist Davido's concert in London later that month.

In February 2019, they hung out again at a restaurant in Ghana and later at the private London club Annabel's.

However, the couple's whirlwind romance ended in April when a source told the Sun that Campbell had made the decision to “let things fizzle out.”

Campbell reportedly ended her affair with Payne (pictured above) in March 2019. Getty Images
Both Campbell and Payne remained silent about their rumored romance. GC images

Both stars were questioned several times about their alleged relationship but remained tight-lipped.

Andy Cohen asked Payne to “confirm or deny” the romance during an episode of “Watch What Happens Live” in December 2019, after which the “Teardrops” singer decided to “take the fifth plea.”

Although it's unclear whether Campbell and Payne remained in touch after their brief affair, he remained close with their mutual friend Scherzinger, 46, even texting the “Sunset Boulevard” star on the day of his death.

Campbell left the comment under Scherzinger's heartfelt tribute to Payne. Instagram / @nicolescherzinger
The “Teardrops” singer, pictured here in February 2020, died on October 16. BabiradPicture/Shutterstock

Scherzinger, who founded One Direction as a judge on “The X Factor” with Simon Cowell in 2010, mourned Payne's death in her emotional Instagram post on Friday.

“I will forever cherish and cherish the time we spent together, from fifteen years ago when One Direction was born to just a few weeks ago,” she wrote in part.

The “Don't Cha” singer added that the late pop star “brought so much joy, light and laughter into the lives” of those who knew him.

Payne died on October 16 after falling three stories from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.

Payne was staying at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when he fell three stories from his balcony. Instagram/kateecass
Since then, several stars have paid tribute to the late pop star, seen here in December 2022. REUTERS

According to his autopsy, the former boy bander, who had previously spoken openly about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health, reported having cocaine, crack cocaine, benzodiazepines and a drug cocktail called “pink cocaine” in his system at the time of his death.

Several of Payne's family members and close friends, including his former One Direction bandmates, have released statements mourning the loss.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the SAMHSA hotline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *