Liam Payne’s girlfriend Danielle Peazer has shares a heartfelt tribute to the star and revealed he contacted her just weeks before his tragic death aged 31.
The One Direction singer plunged 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, prompting a wave of tributes from across the showbiz world.
After saying earlier this week she was ‘not mentally string enough’ to deal with the loss, the model, who dated Liam and off from 2010 until 2012, returned to social media with a lengthy tribute alongside a slew of snaps of them together.
Danielle explained how the singer had contacted her to express his happiness for her after she went on to find love with partner Sonny and welcome daughter Mia, saying she would ‘always cherish’ his kindness.
She penned: ‘Whilst we all take the time to navigate in a world without Liam, it’s important to remember that while he was adored by millions as a world famous musician for the last decade, he was also someone’s son and brother for more than 30 years, a friend to so many and more recently an uncle’.
‘His most important role and something he was the most proud of out of all of his monumental successes was that he was a father.
She continued: ‘The thought that there is a now a child growing up without one of their parents is heartbreaking and unfair.
‘To Liam’s son Bear, as well as his parents and sisters, my love, thoughts and strength goes to you. The magnitude of this loss is incomprehensible and I will continue to support you in any way I am able to.’
Before adding: ‘Thank you for teaching me about the importance of setting boundaries, and that I should always protect my heart.
‘Receiving a message from you a couple of weeks ago expressing your happiness for the love I found with Sonny and Mia is something I’ll cherish forever’.
On Saturday Danielle explained she had been taking the last few days to process the news of the star’s death as she penned: ‘In time I will share more, but right now I don’t feel mentally strong enough to face the reality of what’s happened’.
Describing it as a ‘heartbreaking time’, Danielle explained the last few days had been made even more difficult due to negative comments from vicious trolls.
She wrote: ‘Like all of us, I too am grieving, and need to take some time to do that privately.
‘It’s a heartbreaking time, which has already been made so much more challenging due to receiving negative and misinformed comments as well pre conceived judgement from those who don’t personally know me, Liam or anything about out relationship over the last 14 years.’
She concluded: ‘I will be back soon when I’m ready but until then please take care of each other.’
While Danielle referenced the negative abuse she had received, she also thanked people for their supportive messages.
She said: ‘Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to call, text, or DM sending condolences and offering support.
‘I’m so grateful and it’s helped more than you know.’
Danielle, who is now in a relationship and shares daughter Mia with Sonny Jay, dated Liam on and off from 2010 when they both met on the X Factor.
They split in 2012 but were thought to have enjoyed a very brief reconciliation back in 2022.
During an interview in October 2012, Liam admitted he was ‘devastated’ after separating from Danielle.
Her tribute comes after Cheryl also broke her silence on Liam’s death.
The Girls Aloud singer was previously in a relationship with Liam for two years, with the pair welcoming their child, Bear Grey, into the world on March 22, 2017.
The grieving mother took to Instagram on Friday evening telling of her anguish as she tries ‘navigate this earth shattering event’.
Her statement read: ‘As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time.
‘I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.
‘Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven year old son.
‘A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.’
The pair initially crossed path on the hit talent show in 2008, however it wasn’t until 2016 that their relationship began.
They made their official red carpet debut at Eva Longoria’s Global Gift Gala in Paris in that year, with Payne paying tribute to Cheryle with a tattoo of her eye on his arm.