The four members of One Direction have paid tribute to Liam Payne, following the tragic death of their former band mate in Argentina yesterday.
In a joint statement posted to the official One Direction Instagram account, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles wrote, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing.”
The four men continued, “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 statement concluded, “We love you Liam.”
Louis, Zayn and Harry have released solo tributes as well.
Louis captioned a photo of him and Liam on-stage, ““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.”
He ended his note with a message for Liam’s seven-year-old son, Bear. “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,” Louis wrote.
He concluded, “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”.
Zayn posted a throwback photo of him and Liam asleep in the back of a car, alongside a statement.
“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,” Zayn began. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.”
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tel you that I loved and respected you dearly,” he continued. Zayn ended his message with an emotional note to Liam, writing, “I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and at peace and you know how loved you are.”
Harry uploaded a photo of Liam singing on-stage, paired with a message to his “lovely friend.”
“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” Harry wrote, adding, “The years we spend together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.”
He wrote that his “heart breaks for [Liam’s family] Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did.”
One Direction was formed during the 2010 season of X Factor, after each member auditioned as solo acts before being placed into a group. The five-piece placed third on the show before going on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. They released five studio albums before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
News of Liam’s passing broke the morning of October 17, Australian time, when Argentinian news papers reported he had died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. He was only 31 years old.
