Following the tragic passing of One Direction singer, Liam Payne, at the age of 31, the remaining four band members have shared a joint statement with the press – and Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik have also shared personal messages on social media.
Liam sadly fell from a third floor balcony while staying at a hotel in Argentina, having previously watched Niall Horan (another former member of One Direction) perform in the country. He leaves behind a son, Bear, 7, who he co-parents with Cheryl Tweedy.
Here's what the band have shared in memory of Liam so far, both as a collective and some as individuals.
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Louis Tomlinson's post for Liam Payne
Reflecting on their shared experiences as teenagers joining the group, Louis wrote that he is 'beyond devastated' to have lost his close friend.
In full, Louis' statement – which he shared via Instagram – reads: 'I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul. 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 all my life for.'
It continues on to say, 'Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band. And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.'
Louis ended his touching post with a message directly for Liam.
'A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.'
The musician also made clear that he wants to support Liam's son, Bear, who he shares with Girls Aloud singer, Cheryl Tweedy, as best he can in future. 'I want you to know that 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. I wish I got [a] chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.'
He rounded off by saying: 'Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.'
Zayn Malik's tribute to Liam Payne
Shortly after Louis shared his post online, Zayn uploaded a sweet photo of himself and Liam asleep on one another in the back of a car, along with the caption, 'Love You Bro ❤️.'
In a separate slide, Zayn shared a tribute to Liam saying: 'I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me. I can't help but think selfishly that there [were] so many more conversations for us to have in our lives. I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.'
Speaking candidly Zayn reflected on their time in the band as teenagers, 'When I was missing home as a 17 year old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know that you were my friend and that I was loved. Even though you were younger than me, you were always more sensible than me.'
Zayn also added that Liam was 'headstrong, opinionated and gave no f*cks about telling people when they were wrong' and that even though the pair 'butted heads' a few times, he 'secretly respected' Liam because of it.
'I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage, we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next,' the post continues. 'I lost a brother when you left us and can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly. I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever.'
Harry Styles' tribute to Liam Payne
Styles shared a photo of Payne during one of the band's concert tours and a statement on Instagram which read: 'I am truly devastated by Liam's passing.
'His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,' he wrote. 'Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
'He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
'My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.'
One Direction's joint statement about Liam Payne's death
Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Niall Horan also issued a joint statement to the press, which reads: 'We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. 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 four musicians added, '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. We love you Liam.'
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Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
