Netflix Sets the Record Straight! The streaming giant promises to honor Liam Payne’s legacy in Building the Band—calling it “the right thing to do.”
Liam Payne had signed on to star in a high-profile Netflix talent show, Building the Band, before his death, and it’s still going ahead without him, as In Touch originally reported. However, a source exclusively tells In Touch that everyone involved in the project is determined to honor his legacy by making the series a huge success.
“Even though Liam had filmed a substantial amount of material for the show, the decision was made shortly after his passing to continue the project, honor his legacy and amazing story as a One Direction member and bring this series to audiences,” the insider says. “They’re back to filming, and Netflix is not going to hide Liam’s contribution to this project.”
The source adds that Netflix is “leaning into” the work that the boyband alum did for the show, and his “early interactions with the participants” will “be part of the finished series, which took a production pause following his death to regroup and forge a path forward.”
The insider continues, “The idea is that Liam’s incredible rags-to-riches success story with 1D can still inspire a new generation of pop performers, and that’s all going to be tastefully acknowledged in the finished series. It’s just the right thing to do.”
The source also notes that “to their credit, Netflix is being especially considerate and sensitive about this because they don’t want to upset Liam’s family, friends and fans.”
“Even though Liam’s work on the show was ultimately cut short, it’s not going to go to waste,” the insider concludes.
Liam died at 31 years old on October 16, 2024, after falling off a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He sustained “very serious injuries” from the fall and fractured his skull, In Touch confirmed at the time.
A toxicology report later revealed that the “Strip That Down” singer had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death, including cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack. His body also contained traces of “pink cocaine,” a mix of ecstasy, ketamine, caffeine and a psychedelic drug known as 2-CB.
In December 2024, five people were charged in connection to Liam’s death — hotel manager Glida Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, Liam’s friend Roger Nores, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz. Nores, Paiz and Pereyra denied involvement in the musician’s death. The manslaughter charges against Nores, Martin and Grassi were dropped in early March, but Paiz and Pereyra remain behind bars while they await trial for allegedly selling drugs to Liam on the night of his death.
Liam’s death came just two months after Netflix announced his involvement in Building the Band alongside Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland and AJ McLean. The series will see contestants grouped with bandmates based on “compatibility, connection, and, most importantly, merit” as they attempt to build connections with each other to create seamless and unforgettable performances, according to Netflix’s Tudum.
After Liam’s passing, a source exclusively told In Touch that the X Factor alum, who was set to be a judge and mentor on the show, “was poised to truly reinvent his image as he searched for the next pop supergroup in much the same fashion he and his One Direction bandmates were discovered.”
“It’s the kind of show that, in success, Liam could have been a part of for many years,” the insider continued. “Just because you’re dealing with young, aspiring singers, it was already a poignant journey for the talent involved, and Liam’s untimely passing takes things to a different level.”
