For the first time, Naomi Campbell has expressed her feelings about Liam Payne’s passing. The 54-year-old supermodel responded to Nicole Scherzinger’s Instagram tribute on October 25, which honored Payne following his death on October 16.
Scherzinger, 46, reflected on her long-standing friendship with Payne and extended condolences to his family and friends. In the comments, Campbell conveyed her sentiments with a heartfelt message, posting, “🕊️💔🕊️🙏🏾.”
Naomi Campbell shares her emotions for Liam Payne on social media
Campbell’s representatives have been contacted by PEOPLE for additional comments. Payne tragically passed away at the young age of 31 after falling from multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as confirmed by Policía Federal Argentina.
Rumors of a romantic connection between Campbell and Payne began circulating in early 2019 when they were spotted at several events together and engaged in flirtatious exchanges on social media.
The two attended a Formula E event in Hong Kong in March of that year, although they weren’t photographed together, as reported by The Sun. That same month, the U.K. newspaper Metro noted that they were seen at an event at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
During that time, the supermodel and the late singer flirted via Instagram. In January 2019, Campbell commented “Beautiful soul” on a shirtless photo of Payne, who later responded to one of her selfies by writing, “Perfection in a person…”
In December 2019, when asked about the dating rumors on Watch What Happens Live, Payne humorously declined to comment, stating, “I plead the fifth — it’s my right as a human.”
Similarly, Campbell avoided addressing their relationship on The Jonathan Ross Show in March 2019, responding, “I never discuss my personal life” when asked about her connection with Payne. Campbell’s reaction to Scherzinger’s tribute comes in light of the singer’s reflections on their bond, which began during his time with One Direction on The X Factor.
“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 two photos of herself, Payne, and Kelly Rowland.
“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,” the former Pussycat Dolls star added. “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.”
