Perrie Edwards admits she 'can't cope' with 'dark side of fame' that people don’t see

Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards has admitted she 'can't cope' with panic attacks which come as a result of the 'dark side of fame'. The girl band member, who is currently releasing music as a solo artist, opened up on her struggles in a recent interview with TV presenter Fearne Cotton.

Speaking on her Fearne's Happy Place podcast, Perrie, 31, admitted she could not believe former One Direction singer Liam Payne’s 'heartbreaking' death was 'real' and that it was 'very close to home'.

It comes as Liam died aged 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier this month and was found dead at the scene by police officers and emergency services.

READ MORE: Perrie Edwards breaks down in tears as she opens up on 'heartbreaking' end to friendship with Jesy Nelson

Perrie said Little Mix had a 'relationship' with the singer’s former band One Direction, after winning series eight of The X Factor in 2011, a year after the boy band was formed on the show and finished third.

The mum-of-one said Liam's death was 'absolutely devastating' as she told Fearne: "I think it just feels weird, it’s just so sad. It’s so heartbreaking, and my heart honestly hurts for his family, his friends, Cheryl, his little boy.

“It’s just absolutely devastating, and I can’t even imagine how they must be feeling right now. I didn’t think it was real when I read it, and it’s a very weird space, and I think it’s in the air, everyone can feel it, it’s really sad.

“Us girls were messaging, and I think Leigh-Anne (Pinnock, fellow Little Mix member) was like, ‘it’s very close to home’, our careers were very aligned.

“We had a relationship with them (One Direction), and it’s honestly so sad, like it made my