One Direction Responds To Liam Payne’s Death With A Joint Statement

Following Liam Payne’s death on Oct. 16, his former One Direction bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson paid tribute in a joint statement.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the group wrote on Oct. 17. “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.”

The bandmates concluded their statement with a touching send-off to Payne directly. “We love you, Liam,” they wrote, signing, “Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”

Payne died from a fall out of a Buenos Aires, Argentina hotel, according to a statement shared by local police to international media. He was 31 years old.

Louis Tomlinson Paid Special Tribute

In addition to the joint statement, Tomlinson followed up with an individual tribute on Instagram.

He recalled meeting Payne as teenagers on The X Factor in 2010. “I was instantly amazed by his voice,” he wrote, “but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for.”

Tomlinson said he and Payne “often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.”

In recent years, the former bandmates have been open about their friendship. In 2020, Payne told Access Hollywood that they’d speak “quite a lot” about fatherhood, and last year, he attended the premiere of Tomlinson’s documentary, All of Those Voices.

In his statement, Tomlinson called Payne “the most vital part of One Direction,” pointing to “his perfect pitch, his stage presence,” and “his gift for writing.”

Tomlinson also shared a personal message for Payne, telling his friend and former bandmate that he’d be a proud uncle to Payne’s son, 7-year-old Bear, “and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.”

“I love you mate,” he concluded his tribute. “Sleep well.”

Harry Styles Said He “Lived Wide Open”

On Instagram, Styles shared a photo of Payne sitting onstage, staring out at a crowd, microphone in hand. He accompanied the post with a message that began by noting his “devasat[tion].”

“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” Styles wrote. “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm supportive and incredibly loving.”

He finished the message by showing support for Payne’s family, and for those “who knew and loved him, as I did.”

Zayn Malik Thanked His Friend

Malik also shared a statement on Instagram. Alongside a sweet throwback photo of the pair, he wrote that he’d been speaking aloud to his late friend, and said there were “so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.”

The singer said he “never got to thank” Payne for his support when he was young and missing home, telling his late friend that “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.”

Like Tomlinson, Malik singled out Payne’s role in the group, writing that he was musically “the most qualified in every sense.” He also admitted that while they “butted heads” a few times, he “secretly respected” Payne’s “headstrong” and “opinionated” personality.

“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,” Malik wrote. “I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever.”