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.
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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.”
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.”
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