Death of Liam Payne: One Direction members ‘beyond devastated’ – National

Liam Payneit’s the old one One direction Members of the group released joint and individual statements saying they were “completely devastated” by the singer’s untimely death on Wednesday.

Payne, 31, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after fell from a hotel balcony on the third floor. An autopsy report released Thursday found that Payne died from multiple serious injuries and “internal and external bleeding» following the fall from the balcony.

Surviving bandmates of One Direction — Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan And Zayn Malik – first released a joint statement on social media Thursday afternoon.

“We are completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” said the the group wrote on Instagram. “As time goes on, and when everyone is capable, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, whom we loved dearly.

The former boy banders said they will forever cherish their memories with Payne and sent their best wishes to his family, friends and fans.

“We love you Liam,” the bandmates signed off.

Louis Tomlinson

After One Direction’s joint statement was released, band members slowly shared individual tributes to Payne on their social media accounts.

The first to publish was Tomlinson, who called Payne a role model and “a positive, funny and kind soul.”

“I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18. I was immediately amazed by his voice, but more importantly, over time I got the chance to see the nice brother I had dreamed of all my life”, Tomlinson, 32 years old. , wrote. “Liam was an incredible songwriter with a great sense of melody, we often talked about going back into the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built in the band.”

Tomlinson called Payne “the most vital part of One Direction” and thanked him for shaping the group.

The singer then had a personal message for Payne, “if you’re listening.”

Tomlinson said he was “beyond lucky” to have had Payne in his life, but was “really struggling with the thought of saying goodbye.”

“Remembering the thousands of incredible memories we had together is a luxury I thought I would have with you for life,” he continued. “I would have loved to share the stage with you again, but it wasn’t to be.”

Payne and Tomlinson have both admitted to having a sometimes strained relationship while they were members of One Direction. During an infamous interview on Logan Paul’s podcast ImpulsivePayne in 2022 said he and Tomlinson despised each other to the point of physically arguing.

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Although Payne Impulsive the interview was not well received by One Direction fans, Tomlinson later defended his bandmate and said the podcast hosts were “disrespectful” and taking advantage of Payne, who had relapsed over his sobriety.

Tomlinson said he and Payne became closer friends after One Direction announced their hiatus in 2015.

Zayn Malik

Malik said he has been “talking out loud” to Payne since news of her death broke.

“I can’t help but selfishly think that there are so many more conversations to be had in our lives.” Malik, 31, wrote. “I never had the chance to thank you for supporting me through the most difficult times of my life.”

“When I was 17, when I was at home, you were always there with a positive attitude and a reassuring smile and letting me know that you were my friend and that I loved,” he recalled.

Malik said he admired Payne, despite the fact that they often “butted heads” in their youth.

“I always secretly respected you for that,” Malik revealed of their arguments.

THE Pillow talk The singer said Payne had always been the most “skilled” musician and member of One Direction.

“I lost a brother when you left us and I can’t explain to you what I would give to hug you one last time and say goodbye properly and tell you that I love and respect you a lot,” Malik concluded. . “I will forever cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart, there are no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than devastated.”

Malik suddenly left One Direction in 2015, and the band members continued for several months without him before announcing their hiatus.

He and Payne had a tumultuous relationship, which Payne spoke about – and later apologized for – on the Impulsive podcast.

Earlier this year, Malik said he was grateful being part of One Direction, but would have liked to “enjoy” the experience more in his younger years.

“I’m grateful that I can be happier now,” Zayn said in an interview.

Harry Styles

Styles shared a short statement about Payne on Instagram on Thursday and said he was “truly devastated” by his bandmate’s death.

“His greatest joy was making others happy, and it was an honor to be by his side while he did it,” Styles, 30, wrote. “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had a contagious energy for life.”

“He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving,” Styles said of Payne. “The years we spent together will forever be among the most precious years of my life.”

Styles said his “heart breaks” for Payne’s family members, his son and “everyone in the world who knew and loved him, like me.”

Styles has often spoken positively about his time in One Direction and attributed the group’s development to his solo success.

In a 2022 interview with Zane Lowe, ahead of his album release Harry’s house, Styles recalled the One Direction years. He remembers the first time the band members’ photo was published in a local newspaper and how “happy” teenagers at the time were at the lack of success.

Niall Horan

The last One Direction member to pay tribute to Payne was Horan, who was also the band member to most recently meet Payne in person.

Two weeks before his death, Payne attended Horan’s concert at the stadium in Argentina. Payne was seen dancing in a private dressing room on site before and during the show, then met Horan afterward.

In a statement posted to social media on Friday, Horan said he was “devastated by the passing of my incredible friend, Liam.”

Horan, 31, said he felt “lucky” to have seen Payne recently.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t know that after saying goodbye to him and hugging him, I would say goodbye to him forever,” he wrote. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Horan said Payne’s death “just doesn’t seem real.”

“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was contagious,” he continued. “He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and safe.”

“All the laughter we have had over the years, sometimes over the simplest things, continues to come back to us through the sadness,” Horan wrote. “We were able to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we experienced forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t come along often in one’s life.

Niall sent his best wishes to Payne’s family and thanked his bandmate for “everything”.

In 2023, Horan declared One Direction “I feel like it’s a separate life now.”

Horan said he had “a good view of things, looking back” and was grateful that “he didn’t lose the plot along the way.”

Who was Liam Payne?

The members of One Direction met in 2010 during the British singing competition The X factor, when judges including Simon Cowell paired the then teenagers in a group act.

Payne had previously auditioned for The X factor two years ago, but was eliminated early. His second successful attempt at age 16 positioned Payne as a leader among the five One Direction boys, known for their rowdy shenanigans.

The success of One Direction is explosive. Until the group announced its hiatus in 2015, the members’ faces were commonly plastered on the walls of teenage bedrooms around the world.

Today, these fans are mourning the death of their parasocial relationships with Payne, alongside the members of One Direction, who lost a beloved “brother”.