- Liam Payne’s sisters have shared individual statements following the news of their brother’s untimely death
- Payne tragically passed away last week after falling from a third-floor balcony in Argentina
- His siblings Nicola and Ruth opened up about the former One Direction star
The world was rocked after the news that Liam Payne had tragically died last week.
And now his two older sisters have released statements to pay tribute to their brother.
The former One Direction singer passed away after falling from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires, aged just 31.
Anonymous sources familiar with Argentinian toxicology reports told ABC News and TMZ that a cocktail of drugs called ‘pink cocaine ‘ – containing methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA – had been found during a partial autopsy of Payne, along with crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.
And while friends and fans of the star opened up about their memories of Payne, his sisters also took to social media to say a few words.
Nicola Payne, 36, told her Instagram followers on October 21 that she found out her brother had died via a news alert on her phone.
She continued, “I have posted about Liam and his achievements over the years with a proud sister alert and that has stood then, now and always!!!
“I have spent days hoping that it was a mistake and somebody has got it wrong. You were truly too good for this earth, you are an angel who just lived for making people smile and happy.
“You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew!
“We don’t have many pictures together as we never really did that as a family, we never wanted you to feel like you were in a room of fans, but we were your biggest fans always and forever.
“Your talent alone puts you miles ahead, but you also being you.”
Nicola added, “I have been looking back at the messages from the night I had Ffion, how excited you were to meet her, the jokes we all shared and the laughter that you knew we all needed.
“You led your life with a motto of why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it, and Liam you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!! Unfortunately this cruel world is always too quick to judge someone from a few 5 second clips, they even think it entitles them to be able to speak like they know you.
“We knew you and we loved you.”
Nicola ended her statement, “I hope you have finally found peace up there and that you’ll continue to look after us all as you have done in life.
“We will make sure Bear knows about his daddy and how much you loved him, we promise this.
“See you soon Liam, Love You xx.”
‘Liam is my best friend’
Two days before, Payne’s other sister, Ruth Gibbons, also posted a tribute to her younger brother via her Instagram.
“I don’t believe this is happening,” wrote the 33-year-old. “Many times have I poured my heart out publicly with pride about Liam but never much about life as his sister.
“Liam is my best friend, no one could ever make me laugh as much as him, doing his impressions always had me creasing and he loved seeing how much of a laugh he could get.
“He moved out when he was 17 to chase his dreams, it’s this that forced me to finally pass my driving test during the factor live show weeks because I couldn’t stand the thought of not being able to get to him.
“I would regularly drive to have tea with him after I finished work, just to sit around. One month the hotel was right by a Wagamamas and I swear he had it morning, noon and night!”
Talking after his X Factor heyday Gibbons continued “I used to love picking him up from work when it all started, especially after concerts, speeding us away from venues or appearances, Liam plugging in his phone to show me the new songs for albums.
“Liam loved 1D, he loved his brothers and we talked about it so much. He would just play song after song that had been recorded but never used and we’d sit having a mini 1D concert.
“Liam knew he could call me anytime, any day and I would pick up or that I would always fetch him if he needed to just come home. Our calls would often result in me laughing at his ideas and next adventure, talking through his plans and working through his issues but it would always end with ‘love you miss you’ “love you ru.’
“Liam was born with music in his veins, it was clear from a very young age he just had that quality that would make him a star. I could sit and listen to him sing all day, which is a good job really because he never bloody stopped!
“I will never tire of the look he gives when showing new songs, ‘listen loud’ he’d say and just grin with pride at his work.”
Gibbons also shared a deeply personal part to her tribute, including a list of “notes on my phone with things to tell Liam.”
In a direct open letter, she wrote, “Liam. My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone.
“I just want to drive to your house and walk in to music blasting and find you sat there writing a song or walk in to your art phases and sit with you whilst you draw or craft.
“What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I’m with you with anyone else.
“I’m always in awe of your talent, it should be illegal to be so talented and just have the ability to not only be good at things but be bloody great at everything you attempt, without even knowing you’re absolutely smashing it each time.”
She continued, “I love your kindness and how proud I am to call you my brother and my best friend. You also make a great Sunday dinner too!
“I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you.
“You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time.”
Gibbons added, “Thank you for changing my life, thank you for the incredible memories, thank you for being the best brother and friend I’ll ever have!
“We’ll take care of Bear and he will always know how incredible his Dad is and how much you idolize him.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. Love you, oh how my heart misses you.
“One last time I need you to know, I’m here if you need anything, I’d drive to the end of the universe to bring you back.”
‘We are heartbroken’
The sisters’ words come after Payne’s parents released a statement on behalf of their family last week.
“We are heartbroken,” they wrote. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
