Naomi Campbell breaks silence on death of Liam Payne five years on from romance

Fashion icon Naomi Campbell broke her silence on Liam Payne after his death last week.

The supermodel was once rumoured to be romantically involved with Liam in the past. The fashion legend, aged 54, expressed her sorrow via a small yet poignant gesture on social media following the sudden death of the former One Direction member last Wednesday (October 16).

Naomi weighed in with her silent yet meaningful condolences amidst a flood of heartfelt tributes pouring in for the celebrated singer, who passed away at the age of 31. Nicole Scherzinger, who had a key role in shaping One Direction's journey during The X Factor's Bootcamp stage in 2010, led the mourning with a touching homage on her digital channels.

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On Friday, Nicole posted a memorable ode to Liam as she grappled with the heartbreaking revelation. In response, Naomi shared her own grief, leaving a string of emotive emojis including doves, a broken heart and prayer hands beneath The Pussycat Dolls singer's post.

Speculation was rife regarding Naomi and Liam's secret courtship in years gone by. The Daily Mail reported the pair went through a phase of dating when Naomi was 48 and Liam just 25, with their romance reportedly simmering down in April 2019. A source, speaking to The Mirror during their split, confided: "Liam and Naomi had a lot of fun together, they got on well and had a laugh. But it just wasn't meant to be."

An insider revealed that the pair would "stay friends" and there was no animosity as they parted ways. Rumours had been swirling about a romance after the two rang in the New Year together in Ghana. Subsequently, reports surfaced of the couple having a "mind-blowing" time in both New York and London, playfully interacting under each other's social media posts. While neither confirmed the relationship, Liam once praised Naomi in an interview, calling her "perfection in a person" and "a beautiful soul".

The news comes amid a wave of tributes for the For You singer following his tragic death in Argentina last Wednesday. Celebrities who knew Liam have been reflecting on their interactions with him.

Nicole Scherzinger, the Don't Hold Your Breath singer, paid homage to Liam, expressing that she will "forever cherish and treasure" the memories shared during his rise to stardom. In a poignant message, Nicole admitted struggling to come to terms with his passing but felt thankful for knowing him, saying: "It's been so hard to process that you're no longer here, but I am grateful to have known your kind heart, sweet soul and character."

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