The remaining members of the One Direction boy band have issued a heartfelt response following Liam Payne’s untimely death on October 16, 2024.
In a somber statement released on October 17, 2024, One Direction acknowledged their shared pain, calling Liam Payne a “brother” and reflecting on their cherished memories. The news of Payne’s passing, which broke yesterday, left stars and fans worldwide mourning.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the band shared in their joint statement. While they plan to speak more on the subject later, they emphasized that their immediate focus is on remembering Payne and supporting his family and friends during this difficult time.
For his part, Louis Tomlinson penned his own emotional tribute, describing Payne as a “brother” and praising his talents and kind soul. Tomlinson reflected on their history together, dating back to their first meeting when Payne was 16.
He highlighted Payne’s influence in shaping One Direction and shared how they had planned to work together again. He also vowed to support his friend’s son, Bear, as a lifelong “uncle.”
Later in the evening, Zayn Malik posted his deeply personal tribute on Instagram. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life,” he wrote. “When I was missing home as a 17 yr old [sic] 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.”
After Malik, Harry Styles came forward with his heartfelt words about Payne. “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” he wrote. The “Watermelon Sugar” singer also expressed his sympathy for the people who loved his former bandmate.
Finally, Niall Horan took some time to add his own personal message for Payne and posted it on October 18, 2024. “He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure,” he wrote.
The message continued, “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever.”
As reported previously, Payne, 31, died after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. His unexpected death sparked an official investigation to understand the circumstances of the tragic event that occurred at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
Payne was staying at the 4-star accommodation in the Latin American country when the fatal fall happened, according to police. Emergency services were called to the hotel to respond to a man acting erratically, possibly under the influence, as reported by Alberto Crescenti, the director of Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Services, to ABC News.
Crescenti added that Payne was found in the hotel’s inner courtyard, where he was pronounced dead on the scene. He further explained to the local media outlet TN that the singer fell from a height of 13 to 14 meters (42 to 45 feet) and described his injuries as “very serious” and “incompatible with life.”
Witnesses also reportedly told TMZ that Payne was acting erratically in the hotel lobby earlier in the day. Before the incident, there were allegations that he had destroyed his laptop and required assistance returning to his room.
Several hotel guests confirmed that the singer was seen falling from the third-floor balcony just after 5 p.m., although it remains unclear whether this was accidental or intentional.
Authorities quickly responded to the scene and set up a red tent over the scene as they began their investigation. Crescenti mentioned that emergency services arrived at 5:11 p.m., just a few minutes after the emergency call. Unfortunately, there was no possibility of saving Payne, whose identity was only confirmed after he was pronounced dead.
Payne had been in Argentina earlier in the month to reunite with his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan, who was having a concert. The 31-year-old singer had been a key member of the globally successful boy band, joining the group at age 16 when they were launched on “The X Factor.” They achieved massive international fame before disbanding in 2015.
Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole (now Cheryl Tweedy). The couple confirmed they were expecting their first child in November 2016, and Bear was born in 2017.
In a 2018 interview, Payne discussed the joys and challenges of fatherhood. “I always wanted to be a young dad, but I didn’t really expect that I’d ever be in this place,” he told People.
The singer also humorously referred to himself as “Dada Montana” as he balanced his music career with being a parent. Our prayers go out to his family and all the fans who loved him.
