"We are completely devastated" - One Direction releases joint statement after Liam Payne's death
The rest of One Direction is mourning Liam Payne's tragic death on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. After their former member's passing in his hotel in Argentina, the rest of the members of the pop boy band released a statement addressing Payne's death.
In a joint post shared via the official One Direction Instagram handle on October 17, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles said:
"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 remaining One Direction members also shared their support for the late Liam Payne's family and loved ones.
"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."
News broke that Payne died on Wednesday after he reportedly fell from the third-floor balcony of Casa Sun Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of the Argentine Capital, Buenos Aires. The local police said they found the singer's hotel room "in complete disarray" and that there was clonazepam, a depressant, among other over-the-counter medications, narcotics, and alcohol in his belongings, per AP News.
One Direction members share personal tributes following Liam Payne's passing
Aside from their group statement via the official One Direction handle, the boy band members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson shared their heartfelt personal tributes on their social media following Liam Payne's death.
Zayn Malik, who left One Direction a year before the band's hiatus in 2016, shared a throwback photo of him and Payne in their younger years on X on October 18. Malik can be seen sleeping on Payne's lap while the latter's head lies on Malik's shoulder. The singer took to the caption to say that he finds himself talking out loud to Payne, hoping he can hear him.
He admitted that they "butted heads" before but said that he "secretly respected" Payne for it. In the message addressed to Payne, Malik further wrote:
"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."
Louis Tomlinson also shared a lengthy tribute to his former One Direction mate on Instagram on Thursday, alongside an old photo of him and Payne onstage. He recalled their first meeting when he was 18 and Payne was 16 and how he was amazed by his late bandmate's voice. Tomlinson also shared a message to Liam Payne, "if you're listening," which partly reads:
"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."
He also promised his former bandmate that he would be the uncle Bear needs and that he would "tell him stories of how amazing his dad was."
Earlier this month, Liam Payne attended his former bandmate Niall Horan's The Show concert in Buenos Aires on October 2, 2024. Footage of Payne dancing at the concert circulated online. He also shared a Snapchat video where he said he's hoping to reunite with Horan at his concert.
Later that night, Liam Payne shared a selfie with Horan on his Snapchat with a "Reunited" caption. Two weeks later, the British singer died after falling from his hotel room balcony. The autopsy report detailed Payne's injury that led to his death, including internal bleeding and 25 traumatic injuries to his skull, abdomen, and limbs, per Associated Press.
