Nicole Scherzinger Honors Late Liam Payne on Netflix’s Building the Band

Liam Payne, the late One Direction singer who tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October 2024, appears posthumously in the Netflix reality series Building the Band as a mentor and judge. Nicole Scherzinger, fellow judge and longtime friend, paid heartfelt tribute to Payne during an appearance on The Seth Meyers Show, describing him as a kind and beautiful soul and expressing pride in his work on the show. She emphasized that the series was only released with the full blessing and involvement of Payne's family, who were part of the process during filming. Building the Band, hosted by AJ McLean, features musicians forming bands based solely on vocal performances, and also includes judge Kelly Rowland. Scherzinger highlighted her history with Payne dating back to the 2010 UK X Factor, where she helped form One Direction, and noted how their collaboration on this show brought their journey full circle. Fans have found the show bittersweet, as it offers a final glimpse of Payne’s talent and spirit.