Nicole Scherzinger appeared to smack Liam Payne when she shared her latest Instagram video on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old singer looked incredible in the clip as she filmed herself getting ready for a night out and donning a form-fitting red dress.
The Pussycat Dolls star performed the One Direction song Night Changes along with a cryptic caption.
Cheeky: Nicole Scherzinger appeared to smack Liam Payne when she shared her latest Instagram video on Wednesday
Her caption read, “Does it ever drive you crazy how… long it takes for the truth to come out?” along with a winking face emoji.
It comes after Liam Payne ruffled feathers when he claimed the group was formed around him, explaining the judges started with his face before deciding Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn to add Malik.
But just weeks after he made the comments, an unaired clip from the ITV show revealed that Liam was in fact the fourth boy to be added to the lineup.
The clip also showcases the role Nicole played in putting the group together, with several fans commenting on her Instagram clip to praise her.
Awkward: Liam balked when he claimed One Direction was formed around him, explaining that the judges started with his face before deciding to add Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik
Firing back: Nicole’s caption read, “Does it ever drive you crazy how… long it takes for the truth to come out?” along with a winking face emoji
One user said: “The real creator of 1D. Only a strong girl who’s been in a band knows how to make another great band.
Another wrote: “You guys made the best band in the world!” while another said: “We knew it! We all knew’.
The band was put together 12 years ago at the ITV talent show, with Nicole, Simon and Louis Walsh choosing which boys should be grouped together after they all auditioned as solo artists.
Liam was known to the judges that he had unsuccessfully auditioned for the show two years earlier at the age of 14 – he was turned down on the judges’ houses stage when mentor Simon told him to audition again later.
Beauty: Nicole looked incredible in the clip as she filmed herself getting ready for a night out
Reaction: A recently released clip revealed that Liam’s comments were incorrect, with several of Nicole’s fans praising them
Speaking of his subsequent success on the show, Liam said on Logan Paul’s podcast, “From what I’ve heard, part of the reason One Direction was made was because of Simon’s promise to me, ‘In two years, I’ll be able to do this work for her.”
“So he started with my face and then worked on the rest… I was the honorary member of One Direction. He told me this story himself in his house.”
Liam’s comments went viral at the time, even prompting a dig from Lizzo, who remarked in a TikTok clip last month, “I don’t know who lied to that poor boy but he wasn’t the front man.”
The new X Factor clip proved that Liam was indeed wrong with his comments and also included a sly remark from his former mentor Simon who accused him of being arrogant.
Ouch: Simon Cowell cheekily attacked Liam in never-before-seen footage showing how One Direction was formed by the X Factor juries (pictured with Nicole and Louis Walsh)
In the footage, it’s clear that Niall was actually the first boy pulled from the deck to form the band, followed by Harry, then Louis, then Liam, with Zayn completing the line-up.
Nicole remarked of the group, “They’re just too talented to get rid of. And they have just the right look and charisma on stage.
“They’re like little stars, so you can’t get rid of little stars – you put them all together.”
Liam previously claimed: “He [Simon Cowell] I started with my face and then worked my way around the rest… I was an honorary member of One Direction’ (pictured on the 2010 show)
Oops: The new X Factor clip proved that Liam was indeed wrong with his comments and also included a sly dig from his former mentor Simon who accused him of being arrogant
Although Liam wasn’t chosen as the first person to form the band, the judges praised his vocal ability, with Simon noting, “He was the standout audition, don’t you think he should be over there?” while pointing to the solo boys section.
Nicole disagreed and replied, “I don’t think so. If he’s the standout, then he could be the leader.”
Simon did a smart dig and then said, “He thinks he’s better than anyone on this list.”
Louis replied, “No, he does, Simon. He has the confidence. But he’s good, he’s consistent.’
Cast: It is clear from the footage that Niall was actually the first boy pulled from the deck to form the band, followed by Harry, then Louis, then Liam, with Zayn completing the cast
One Direction appeared in the seventh season of The X Factor which aired on ITV in late 2010.
While Matt Cardle won the singing competition, One Direction went on to become one of the most successful acts to ever emerge from the former ITV programme.
The boy band became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, topping charts worldwide.
In early 2015, Zayn left the band and by the end of the year Harry, Niall, Louis and Liam decided to take a hiatus, which continues to this day while pursuing solo careers.
Victorious: One Direction appeared in the seventh season of The X Factor which aired on ITV in late 2010