Liam Payne’s friend discovered the singer’s death seconds before being questioned on live TV

Liam Payne’s close friend Ant Middleton found out about the singer’s tragic death just seconds before it went live on TV.

During Wednesday’s episode of Australia’s Channel 7 morning show “Sunrise,” Middleton, who filmed the documentary “Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking” with the former One Direction singer in 2019, paid tribute to his late friend in the air.

“I talk to Liam often, he’s a great friend of mine. And wow, I’m shocked, this is obviously the first time I’ve heard of this,” he said.

The British adventurer, 44, added that he “really didn’t know what to say” about Payne’s death, but that he would “reach out to the relevant people to find out what happened to my good friend.”

“I’m out filming at the moment, as you can see, so I’m wet and there’s a bit of noise around me. But yeah, my condolences and I hope they figure out what happened,” Middleton said.

The author of “Zero Negativity: The Power of Positive Thinking” said he considered the pop star a “little brother” after becoming the first celebrity guest on Middleton’s docu-series.

“After we filmed ‘Straight Talking with Ant Middleton,’ we formed a brotherhood. He was like a little brother to me. He would trust me, I would see him,” he continued.

Middleton said Payne exhibited “some issues” but said it was “nothing that a young celebrity (of) her caliber wouldn’t suffer from.”

He added: “He had a lovely aura around him, he was a lovely guy, he had a positive energy around him. He was a visionary, he always thought and dreamed big and that’s why he got where he is.

“He was loved. He was one of those band members who was the glue, I believe, for One Direction. It’s a shame to see such a positive individual die so young.”

Middleton also paid tribute to his late friend on X, writing that Payne was a “talented, positive man with a good heart.”

“I’m glad our friendship blossomed and that I was someone you could confine yourself to,” he tweeted alongside four photos of him with Payne.

“Your turn to look at me now, bro! I love you and will miss you so much… My sincere condolences to the @LiamPayne family during these unimaginable times #restinpeacebrother.”

Payne died on Wednesday after falling from his third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old.

Moments before his death, the “X Factor” alum was acting erratically in the hotel lobby before being taken back to his room.

Drugs and alcohol were found in Payne’s hotel room after his fall, including pieces of aluminum foil, lighters and a white powdery substance.

Before his death, Payne had previously spoken about how he experienced “suicidal ideation” during his time in One Direction.

“I was worried about how far away my bottom would be. Where is rock bottom for me? And you would never have seen it. I’m very good at hiding it,” he said on the “Diary of a CEO” podcast in 2021. “Nobody would have ever seen that.”

Payne added that his problems were “very, very, very serious.”

“It was a problem. And it wasn’t until I saw myself afterwards that I was like, ‘Okay, I need to fix myself.'” he shared.

Payne is survived by his son, Bear Grey, 7, who he shared with his ex Cheryl Cole.

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