Netflix to make major change in Liam Payne show over backlash fears
They want to 'err on the side of caution.'
Netflix is reportedly considering scaling back the late Liam Payne’s appearances in upcoming talent competition Building The Band.
In the weeks before his death aged 31, the former One Direction had been filming the new reality series, which sets out to create ‘the next great pop group’ as a guest judge.
However, the streamer reportedly ‘wants to strike the right balance’ with Payne’s on-screen presence over fears that if he features too heavily, it could be deemed insensitive or in poor taste.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘The feeling among execs at Netflix is that they want to err on the side of caution, and if that means having Liam in the least amount of scenes possible then that’s the step they’re willing to take.
‘They want to strike the right balance between having him feature in the show, doing the thing he loved, with having him feature too much, which would be a lot for his loved ones to contend with.’
Netflix is said to be having ongoing discussions with Payne’s family, whose views are a ‘crucial consideration.’
Payne is a guest judge on the show that also stars Kelly and Nicole (Picture: Instagram)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Previous Page Next PageThe source continued: ‘Fans may be surprised by how little he ends up featuring in the finished series.
‘The one option they probably don’t have is to remove him entirely from the show, even if they wanted to, because he’s an intrinsic part of the process the boy bands go through on the series.’
Building The Band, which brings together singers to form bands without seeing each other, follows a similar concept to Love Is Blind, with contestants kept in separate booths.
It had previously been reported that Payne loved the experience on the show and wanted to continue working with the bands after production.
Netflix may cut back on Payne’s screentime over sensitivity concerns (Picture: Marc Piasecki/GC Images)A source told People: ‘Liam seemed so genuinely happy to be on set. He looked healthy and was smiling in all his fan interactions, signing things and chatting with them between takes.
‘He was having a great time doing what he loved, and showed no signs of any underlying issues.’
Building The Band also stars Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger.
Former X Factor judge Nicole takes on the mentor and judge role, while Kelly is a guest judge.
Payne found fame in One Direction in similar show, The X Factor r(Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)Building The Band was one of the last projects from the former Strip That Down hitmaker, along with the track Do No Wrong with North Carolina singer Sam Pounds.
Pounds later delayed the release of the new music, citing wanting Payne’s ‘family to mourn in peace and in prayer’.
Payne died on October 16 after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina is continuing to investigate the circumstances around Payne’s death.
In November, Payne’s funeral took place in Buckinghamshire and was attended by Cheryl, the mother to his son Bear, as well as fellow One Direction stars Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
Metro has contacted Netflix for comment.
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