AJ McLean Sensed Hassle, Texted Liam Payne Earlier than His Dying

Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean just lately shared a heartfelt second that occurred simply in the future earlier than the tragic passing of his buddy, singer Liam Payne. McLean revealed that he felt compelled to achieve out to Payne after sensing one thing was flawed, particularly as they hadn’t spoken for almost two weeks.

The 2 shaped an in depth bond throughout the filming of the upcoming Netflix collection “Constructing the Band,” the place they, together with Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland, labored carefully collectively for six weeks. Throughout the mission, Payne and McLean shortly grew to become pals, with McLean describing their connection as a significant one constructed on shared experiences each on and off the set.

AJ McLean’s considerations got here to a head a day earlier than Liam Payne’s loss of life, prompting him to ship a check-in message after noticing their current lapse in communication.

The 46-year-old Backstreet Boys member mentioned he reached out to Payne with a easy but heartfelt message: “Hey man, are you good?” in keeping with McLean’s current interview with the Los Angeles Occasions.

McLean shared with the publication that he felt the necessity to test in with Payne after realizing they hadn’t spoken for almost two weeks. The 2 had developed an in depth friendship whereas working collectively on the upcoming Netflix collection, “Constructing the Band,” the place they bonded over shared struggles and life experiences.

The collection’ future stays unsure within the wake of Payne’s surprising passing.

“[We spoke] candidly about sobriety, sharing tales and one-upping one another. We may chortle about all of it,” McLean mirrored. “As a result of in case you’re nonetheless there to speak about it, meaning you’re transferring in a very good path.”

Final month, information emerged that the previous One Path singer tragically fell from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, leading to his premature loss of life at age 31.

McLean mentioned he felt like a “very older brother” to Payne and needed to be there for him.

“I can torture my mind about ‘Why didn’t he reply?’ However I get it,” McLean continued. “I simply hope individuals keep in mind him the best way he was — a large coronary heart and a large expertise.”

As extra data emerges about Payne’s loss of life, McLean admitted he’s unsure if the world will ever absolutely perceive what the One Path singer was experiencing within the time main as much as his passing.

“I really feel like there’ll by no means be a definitive reply as to why this occurred. That’s probably the most painful factor to sit down with. Why now? Why this manner?” he revealed. “However there’s no rhyme or cause whenever you’re hurting and on the lookout for escape.”

A preliminary post-mortem indicated that Payne sustained a number of “extreme” accidents from the autumn. Stories additionally revealed the presence of drugs in his system, together with “pink cocaine”—a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA—in addition to different medicine.

“Liam was a buddy. We had simply completed filming a TV present collectively,” McLean informed TMZ in October. “We spent six weeks collectively, and you recognize, it’s completely tragic. I’m nonetheless processing it, I’m positive in addition to his household and pals and bandmates. It’s completely tragic, and my ideas and prayers exit to everybody — the household, his bandmates, to the followers.

Based on Argentinian journalist Paula Varela, safety footage reportedly exhibits that Payne fainted earlier than by accident falling to his loss of life on October 16. Varela, showing on “Socios del Espectáculo” on Buenos Aires’ Canal 13, disclosed that CCTV captured Payne’s deadly fall together with the moments main as much as the tragic incident.

“There may be footage that’s not being launched to the media with the balcony scene the place you see that Liam faints, and tragically due to the place he’s, falls from that balcony. If he had been beside his mattress, he would have fallen on his mattress,” Varela mentioned on the present, per The Mirror. “It’s not that he jumped intentionally. This footage is within the official case recordsdata.”