Tributes from the members of One Direction are pouring in for bandmate Liam Payne, who died Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling three floors from a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The One Direction account on Instagram shared a joint statement, attributing it to the band members. “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” they wrote. “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 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.”
Individual members also posted their remembrances, with Tomlinson writing that he was “beyond devastated” and that he had “lost a brother.” He continued, “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. Liam was an incredible songwriter 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.”
Tomlinson also directed a statement to Payne, saying, “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. 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 chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”
Tomlinson subsequently posted an image of him with Payne spilling drinks onto one another, captioning the photo, “This picture summed up our relationship. I love you, I’ll always be your big brother x.”
Zayn issued a statement of his own alongside a pixelated photo of the pair sleeping on each other during their “X Factor” days.
“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” he wrote. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved. Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no fucks about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it. When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. 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. 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, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”
One Direction first formed in 2010 after each member competed as solo acts on the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” The British boy band placed third on the show and were subsequently signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment. Payne, along with the other members of 1D, were introduced to the public through video diaries produced and distributed by “The X Factor,” establishing the traits of each member of the band and giving fans a more intimate understanding of their personalities.
The group went on to become one of the highest-selling boy bands of all time, with more than 70 million records moved worldwide and chart-topping hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life.” Concert films and highly attended tours followed.
In 2017, Payne debuted as a solo singer with “Strip That Down,” after One Direction had announced an indefinite hiatus the year prior and its other members ventured into their own careers. He released his debut album “LP1” in 2019, collaborating with J Balvin, Quavo and producer Zedd. Earlier this year, he put out hit latest single, “Teardrops.”
From Variety US