- Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson post heartbreaking tributes to their late friend and ‘brother’ on social media
- One Direction as a whole also issued a statement following the tragic death of Liam Payne in a Buenos Aires hotel
- The band shot to worldwide fame in 2011 and became one of the most successful acts of all time
One Direction members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson have taken to Instagram to post emotional and touching tributes to their late friend and ‘brother’, Liam Payne, who tragically passed away yesterday after falling from a third floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel in Argentina.
In the last couple of hours, the band as a whole released an official statement on social media, paying tribute to the 31-year-old.
Signed “Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry”, the statement 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 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.”
Zayn and Louis then took to their personal pages to post their own seperate tributes. Malik’s, featuring a photograph of him and Payne at a young age, asleep on each other, captioned “Love you bro” also included a lengthy, heartfelt message.
“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.
“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-year-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 f**ks 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.”
Malik’s tribute concludes, “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”
Tomlinson’s Instagram post, dedicated to his ‘brother’ remembers Payne as somebody Tomlinson “looked up to every day” who was “such a positive, funny and kind soul.”
“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. 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.
“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”
Tributes have continued to pour onto social media all day, with the likes of David Beckham, James Corden and former Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall the latest in a long line of celebrities, friends and fans who have remembered the late singer.
