Tom Parker's Widow Kelsey Shares That Liam Payne 'Always Checked in' on Her After The Wanted Star's Passing: ‘A Good Soul'.Linh

The One Direction alum previously performed at Parker’s cancer benefit in 2021 to raise money for cancer research

Kelsey Hardwick, Liam Payne — Kelsey Parker in London, UK on June 27, 2023, Liam Payne at The O2 in London, UK on Dec. 7, 2019. Photo: David Fisher/Shutterstock(2)

Kelsey Parker, widow of The Wanted‘s Tom Parker, paid tribute to Liam Payne following his death on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at age 31.

In a recent episode of Mum’s the Word, the podcast she co-hosts with Georgia Jones, wife of McFly’s Danny Jones, Parker shared her experience interacting with the late One Direction singer.

“When Tom got sick, it really resonated with Liam and he obviously reached out and was really there for Tom,” Parker said, noting that Payne even performed at a benefit show for Tom.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Tom Parker and Kelsey Hardwick attend The London Cabaret Club launch party at The Bloomsbury Ballroom on May 4, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett / Getty Images for The London Cabaret Club ) — Tom and Kelsey Parker in London on May 4, 2016. David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

“Then when Tom passed, Liam came to Tom’s funeral…Do you know when you think [of] someone, ‘You’re a good soul,’ like, did he not? He didn’t need to come to Tom’s funeral. He felt that he needed to be there,” Parker continued.

The 34-year-old actress said Payne’s support continued well after the funeral. “He always used to reach out to me. He’d be like, ‘Kels, I can see that you’re doing so well.’ He always checked in,” she revealed.

Parker’s The Wanted bandmates also offered their condolences onstage at a concert the day after Payne’s death. Max George said, “Yesterday, we found out the tragic news about someone that we knew personally — Liam Payne— and yeah and obviously shockingly heartbreaking. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him, his friends, family and fans all over the world.”

The lead singer, 36, continued: “Liam [was] really, really supportive when Tom fell ill. We did a thing called Stand Up to Cancer. He was the first person, the first artist to put his hand up and say that he wanted to perform [at the event], which we’ll never forget.”

Parker died of glioblastoma complications, a type of brain tumor, on March 30, 2022. Upon learning of his death, Payne took to X to pay tribute to the late musician, writing, “I’m heartbroken to hear about Tom. He was so full of life and humour, and the memories I have of him with stay with me forever. Sending my thoughts out to his family and his brothers in The Wanted.”

Liam Payne attending the BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards — Liam Payne attending the 2018 BBC Radio 1’s Teen Awards in London.Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Payne died on Wednesday, Oct. 16 after falling from his CasaSur Palermo Hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to ABC News, a partial autopsy revealed the One Direction member had “multiple substances in his system” including “pink cocaine,” a substance that includes a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA.

According to a source close to Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, at the time of his death his “erratic behavior started ramping up” when she left their vacation. “Like you could see from the Snapchat videos, he was a different person around her,” the source exclusively told PEOPLE.

Payne’s body will remain in Argentina until the autopsy is completed.