Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 26, 2025 · Entertainment

Liam Payne's Legacy: Heartfelt Reflections and Final TV Debut

Liam Payne's 'heartbroken' sister Ruth Gibbins has shared her 'immeasurable pride' after seeing her late brother in his final TV appearance on Netflix's Building the Band

SHOCKING TWIST: Liam Payne's Family Speaks Out on His Posthumous Netflix Appearance

In a heart-wrenching revelation, Liam Payne's sister Ruth Gibbins has shared her "immeasurable pride" after seeing her late brother's final TV appearance in the upcoming Netflix show Building the Band. The 31-year-old One Direction star tragically passed away in October last year after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

Ruth took to Instagram Stories, expressing her emotions about Liam's appearance on the talent show, which was filmed before his untimely death. "I'm heartbroken he never got the chance to see how brilliant he is in this show," she wrote, adding that Liam knew he had done a great job when they were filming together.

The singer will make a posthumous appearance as a judge in the talent show which airs on July 9, filmed before he died aged 31 in October, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires

The singer will make a posthumous appearance as a judge on Building the Band, a talent competition where contestants audition each other without seeing each other, à la The Voice. Ruth's heartfelt message was met with an outpouring of support from fans and friends, who praised Liam for his dedication to the show and his craft.

Liam's appearance in Building the Band has been shrouded in mystery until now, but sources close to the production revealed that Netflix worked "very closely" with Liam's family to ensure the tone of the final cut was right. A source told The Scholarly Note: "Liam was on great form at filming so everyone's pleased fans will get to see the 'real' him one last time. It will be bittersweet when the show is released."

The Netflix series, which premieres on July 9, promises to deliver an unforgettable experience with its unique format and star-studded judging panel, featuring AJ McLean, Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and Liam in his final TV appearance. Contestants will be put through their paces as they form their own bands without ever seeing each other, relying on musical compatibility, connection, chemistry, and merit to make the cut.

And ahead of the series launch, Liam sister Ruth shared a heartfelt message to her about his appearance, work and talents

The Tragic Circumstances Surrounding Liam's Death

In January, Liam's cause of death was officially ruled as "polytrauma" - a term used to describe multiple traumatic injuries sustained by the body. His toxicology report revealed a staggering 2.7 grams per liter of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), more than three times the legal driving limit in England and Wales.

The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 14 also found traces of several substances in Liam's system, including cocaine metabolites, methylecgonine, benzoylecgomine, cocaethylene, and the antidepressant sertraline, which is often prescribed for anxiety and depression.

Taking to Instagram Stories, she said: 'I didn't know whether to share this, but it felt odd when I've raved about Liam's work and achievements for the past 15 years'

Liam's Family Gives Their Blessing

Ruth's support for her brother's posthumous appearance has been echoed by Liam's family, who have given their blessing to his inclusion in Building the Band. A source revealed that Netflix sent the entire series to Liam's family in advance, allowing them to review and provide feedback on the final cut.

"Liam was a talented singer, songwriter, and performer, and it's fitting that he will be remembered for his contributions to music," said Ruth. "I'm heartbroken that he never got to see how brilliant he is in this show, but I'm immeasurably proud of him."

Netflix have recently revealed the first glimpse at Liam 's final ever TV appearance with a new trailer for Building The Band

Building the Band promises to deliver an emotional rollercoaster ride as contestants face off against each other, vying for a chance to form the next great music band. With its unique format and star-studded judging panel, it's set to be one of the most unforgettable experiences on Netflix this summer.

Catch Building the Band on Netflix July 9

Get ready to witness the ultimate talent show like never before! Don't miss the premiere of Building the Band on Netflix July 9. Follow us for more updates and behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this unforgettable series.

And joining Liam on the judging panel is Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger and Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland , while Backstreet Boys'

In other moving clips, the late star can be seen engaging with the audience and standing up to give one aspiring band a standing ovation

And referencing the group's beginnings of being put together on the X Factor, Liam says: 'How these bands are put together is not normal. We were not put together that way'

Meanwhile, Nicole can be seen telling the nervous contestants: 'If everybody's fighting to be heard then no one's going to shine' and 'We don't have a couple days, this is tonight'