BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – Former One Direction member Liam Payne has tragically passed away at the age of 31 after falling from his third-story hotel room in Argentina, local authorities confirmed on October 16.
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In a joint statement shared on One Direction’s official Instagram account, his bandmates Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles expressed their heartbreak over Payne’s passing.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the statement read. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
The members continued by saying, “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly.”
The message concluded with, “We love you, Liam,” signed by all four bandmates.
Louis Tomlinson also shared a personal tribute on Instagram, posting a photo of Payne alongside a heartfelt message. “Liam was somebody I looked up to every day, such a positive, funny, and kind soul,” Tomlinson wrote. “I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18. I was instantly amazed by his voice, but more importantly, as time went on, I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed for all my life.”
He praised Payne’s songwriting talent and referred to him as the “most vital part of One Direction,” adding, “I’m beyond lucky to have had you in my life, and I’m struggling with the idea of saying goodbye.”
Tomlinson vowed to be there for Payne’s son, Bear, writing, “If Bear ever needs me, I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.”
Zayn Malik also shared a deeply personal tribute to Payne, posting a photo of the two together. “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me,” he wrote. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.”
Malik expressed his deep respect for Payne, saying, “While we would disagree at times, I always secretly respected you… You were the most qualified in every sense when it came to music.”
He ended his message with, “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain what I’d give to give you a hug one last time and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.”
Harry Styles shared his own tribute on Instagram, calling Payne’s passing “devastating.”
“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honor to be alongside him as he did it,” Styles wrote. “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve. He had an energy for life that was infectious.”
Styles added, “The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished of my life,” concluding with condolences to Payne’s family and son, Bear.
Liam Payne rose to fame as a member of One Direction, the band formed on The X Factor in 2010. Together, they released five albums, including hits like Up All Night and Made in the A.M. In 2015, Payne embarked on a solo career, releasing several successful singles and his debut album LP1 in 2019.
Payne’s death has sent shockwaves through the music industry, with many of his collaborators and friends sharing emotional tributes on social media following the heartbreaking news.