Katie Waissel has urged professionals in the entertainment industry to look after performers following the tragic death of her X Factor co-star Liam Payne.

The former One Direction singer sadly died at the age of 31 after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Katie has now spoken out on Liam’s death and criticized the way X Factor staff treated her when she was cruelly trolled.

The 38-year-old recalled being branded a “drama queen” in emails and receiving a barrage of death threats from the public due to her stint on the show. Mourning Liam’s death on social media, Katie said, “We first met in 2010 on The X Factor, where Liam became my confidant and my rock, offering unwavering support during some of my darkest moments on that journey.”

She remembered him with fondness, saying, “Liam was kind, with a pure heart, a sharp mind, and the wisdom of an old soul. His tragic passing not only leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who loved him but also serves as a painful reminder of the systemic neglect that persists in the industry.”

Katie continued, “There are those who had a responsibility to provide the care and support necessary for the well-being of young artists, but too often, the focus remained on profits rather than the people. This industry has treated talent like commodities, and the negligence of duty of care has once again led to a heart-wrenching loss.”

She added, “We’ve been calling out the industry after losing Liam. Still nothing is done.” Katie is hoping to raise $2,500 to develop safety tools for OWHL. She said the platform will be a safe place where artists and professionals from the music industry can connect “with trust and transparency.”

ITV has asserted it had “robust measures” in place to protect the wellbeing of X Factor contestants. A spokesperson told the BBC last year, “Duty of care is of the utmost importance to us, and we always take contributor welfare extremely seriously.”

They added, “During the 2010 series of The X Factor, there were robust measures in place to ensure everyone involved in the making of the program was supported throughout their experience and beyond including a dedicated welfare team made up of psychologists, doctors, welfare producers and independent legal and management advisors with no time limit on aftercare once the show had aired.”