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One Direction has broken their silence on the death of Liam Payne. The British boyband released a statement a day after the member was announced dead.
Liam Payne died at the age of 31 on October 16, 2024. The former One Direction member reportedly fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” his family said in a statement to PA Media, the U.K. and Ireland’s national news agency. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Related: Liam Payne’s Death Photos Removed by TMZ After Backlash
One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography
The boyband was conceptualized by Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger on the British singing competition The X Factor. After their stint on the show, they catapulted to be one of the best-selling boybands in the world with four of their albums topping the Billboard 200 Chart. The boyband broke up in 2016, one year after Zayn Malik announced he was leaving the group.
How did One Direction respond to Liam Payne’s death?
Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik released a joint statement on social media about Liam Payne’s death. “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 statement continued, “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.”
Liam Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son Bear, and his immediate family including his parents Geoff and Karen Payne and two sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
Louis Tomlinson Responds to Liam Payne’s death
Louis Tomlinson posted a separate statement about his bandmate’s death on his Instagram. Read the whole note below:
“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.”
