Liam Payne’s ‘Building the Band’ Reality Show Future in Doubt Following His Death
The future of Liam Payne’s forthcoming Netflix series Building the Band remains undecided.
Sources tell Us Weekly exclusively that series producers were shocked and saddened by the news of Payne’s unexpected death earlier this month, adding that it’s too soon to make decisions around the competition show.
Netflix first greenlit Building the Band in May before filming wrapped in August. The series involved bringing together 50 singers to compete for a chance to form their own band without seeing each other. Instead, they had to connect via musical compatibility and chemistry before finally meeting in person.
Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland were part of the project, while Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean served as the show’s host.
A source confirmed to Us that Payne appeared as a guest judge on the show, but wasn’t expected to be seen in every episode.
Us previously confirmed that the former One Direction member died on October 16 at the age of 31. He suffered “serious injuries” after falling from a third-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to Buenos Aires emergency service chief Alberto Crescenti.
A preliminary autopsy report viewed by Us revealed that Payne died from “multiple injuries involving ‘internal and external hemorrhage,’” and was believed to be in a “state of semi or total unconsciousness” at the time of the fatal fall.
ABC News later reported that a partial autopsy showed that Payne had “pink cocaine” and other drugs in his system at the time of his death.
Us learned that Payne showed no behavioral changes while shooting Building the Band, with a source explaining that there were “zero issues” with him filming on set.
A source added that Payne wanted to continue working with the bands after production ended, in part because he said he found the experience so fulfilling.
Us has reached out to Netflix for comment.
Payne first got his big break in the music industry when he auditioned for The X Factor UK in 2010. Judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Scherzinger helped bring Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Payne together to create the group’s life-changing boy band, One Direction.
Although the group went on an indefinite hiatus in late 2015, the singers maintained a close bond that was evident in the wake of Payne’s death.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” the group said in a statement via Instagram on October 17. “We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
