“I Haven’t Deleted Our Last Conversation” — AJ McLean Breaks Down Over Liam Payne’s Death, Says They Were ‘Separated at Birth’

AJ McLean Recalls the Moment He Heard About Liam Payne’s Death: “I Still Have the Very Last Conversation We Ever Had”

Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean has opened up about the emotional moment he learned of Liam Payne’s death, describing it as a deeply personal shock that prompted him to immediately reach out to his support network.

“I was literally on a Zoom call with my team,” McLean, 47, shared in an exclusive interview while promoting the upcoming Netflix music competition Building the Band. “My manager told me what had happened, and I was like, ‘Guys, I got to get off the call. I’m sorry. I’ll catch up with you later.’ I just, kind of, sat there.”

The news prompted McLean to contact his sobriety sponsor before reaching out to fellow Building the Band judges Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger. “All three of us kind of banded together and kind of talked to each other,” he said. “We were kind of being support for each other.”

Payne, who had recently served as a judge on the new Netflix talent series alongside McLean, Rowland, and Scherzinger, passed away in October 2024 at the age of 31. His death came shortly after filming had wrapped on the series, which is set to premiere on July 9.

For McLean, working alongside Payne offered a rare opportunity to connect with him on a deeper level. “I had seen Liam in passing at different things, but this was, like I said, the most quality time spent together,” he reflected. “We’re doing 12-to-14-hour days for five weeks straight, and he was just an absolute dream.”

McLean praised Payne’s dry humour, his intelligence, and the way he carried himself with professionalism and warmth throughout the production. “He had the [drier] British humour, I had the American humour. He was so well-read, articulate and very supportive and positive.”

“He would, obviously, find a way to be—I don’t want to say stern—but get his point across in a very constructive manner.”

McLean said the upcoming Netflix show will allow fans to see Payne as he truly was—both as a musician and a mentor. “The show will allow fans of the late One Direction singer to truly remember him the way that he really, really was.”

Their connection also extended to shared struggles with sobriety. “I felt like we were almost separated at birth in a sense as artists. He was just an absolute dream to work with, honestly.”

On a personal note, McLean admitted he’s held onto a poignant reminder of their friendship. “I still have the very last conversation we ever had. I haven’t deleted it. I won’t.”

Building the Band debuts globally on Netflix this month and features one of Payne’s final television appearances—a legacy McLean hopes will remind audiences of the artist’s humour, compassion, and undeniable talent.