Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards is still processing Liam Payneit is death.

Edwards, 31, spoke about Payne’s passing for the first time during a Sunday, Oct. 27, appearance on the “Happy Place” podcast.

“It’s so weird. It’s so sad and heartbreaking, and honestly my heart hurts for his family, his friends, (his ex) Cheryl (Cole and) his little boy,” she said, referring to Payne’s 7-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with Cole, 41. “It’s just absolutely devastating.” …I didn’t think it was real when I read it. It’s a very strange space. …It’s in the air, and everyone can smell it. It’s really sad.

Both Edwards and Payne began their careers on the reality series. The X factor. Payne’s former band, One Direction, was formed during season 7 of the series while Little Mix was formed during season 8. Edwards was engaged to Payne’s former bandmate. Zayn Malik from 2013 to 2015.

“We (Little Mix) girls were sending messages, and Leigh-Anne (Pinnock) it was like, ‘This is really close to home,'” Edwards said of Payne’s death. “Our careers were very aligned, we had a relationship with them. It’s honestly so sad. My body felt weird when I saw the headlines. Like, “This can’t be real. »

Payne died at 31 on October 16 after falling from the third floor balcony of the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A partial autopsy later showed that he had “pink cocaine” – a recreational drug that is usually a mixture of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA – in his system at the time, along with cocaine, benzodiazepines and crack.

The initial preliminary autopsy revealed that Payne may have been “in poor condition.” state of semi or total unconsciousness» at the time of his fall, because his injuries and the “position in which his body was found” suggested that he “had not adopted a reflexive posture to protect himself”.

Related: Liam Payne passed out in hotel lobby before death, guest reveals

Mike Marsland/WireImage The ups and downs of Liam Payne’s career and his life before his sudden death were the focus of a new Nightline documentary. The ABC News Studio production, part of its “Impact x Nightline” series, debuted Thursday, October 25, chronicling Payne’s final days in Argentina. “We had several meetings with Liam. (…)

Payne suffered “multiple trauma” as a result of the fall, including “cranial brain injuries” that were “severe enough to cause death.” He also had hemorrhages in his skull, chest, abdomen and limbs.

“His injuries were incompatible with life,” Buenos Aires emergency services chief said Alberto Crescenti said in a statement, according to The Nation. “From what the team saw, there was apparently a skull fracture and extremely serious injuries which led to his immediate death.”

Edwards said Sunday that Payne’s death should prompt questions about why some people in the public eye “struggle so much.”

“I don’t think there are enough consequences for (nasty) people online. I don’t think people in this industry are looked after enough,” she said. “They’re put on a pedestal, they’re elevated, and they’re like this God or this amazing person, and then everyone jumps on the bandwagon like, ‘Yeah, let’s tear them down.'”

Edwards added that fame gets to her sometimes, too, and noted that she often brings her therapist to work with her because she “literally can’t deal with the panic attacks and stuff.”

While Sunday marked the first time Edwards discussed Payne’s death, she had already removed from appearance on BBC Radio 1 this was to take place a few days after his death. The show’s hosts noted that Edwards’ cancellation was due to “the sad Liam Payne news.”