Liam Payne‘s former One Path bandmates have launched joint and particular person statements saying they’re “fully devastated” by the singer’s premature demise on Wednesday.
Payne, 31, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina after he fell from a third-floor resort balcony. An post-mortem report launched Thursday revealed Payne died of a number of critical accidents and “inner and exterior bleeding” because of the balcony fall.
The surviving One Path bandmates — Harry Types, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik — first revealed a joint assertion to social media late Thursday afternoon.
“We’re fully devastated by the information of Liam’s passing,” the band wrote on Instagram. “In time, and when everybody is ready to, there shall be extra to say. However for now, we’ll take a while to grieve and course of the lack of our brother, who we liked dearly.”
The previous boy banders mentioned they’d treasure their recollections with Payne eternally, and despatched nicely needs to his household, associates and their followers.
“We love you Liam,” the bandmates signed off.
Louis Tomlinson
After the discharge of One Path’s joint assertion, the bandmates slowly shared particular person tributes to Payne on their social media accounts.
First to put up was Tomlinson, who referred to as Payne a task mannequin and “a optimistic, humorous, and type soul.”
“I first met Liam when he was 16 and I used to be 18, I used to be immediately amazed by his voice however extra importantly as time went on I bought an opportunity to see the type brother I’d longed all my life for,” Tomlinson, 32, wrote. “Liam was an unimaginable tune author with an important sense of melody, we regularly spoke of getting again within the studio collectively to try to recreate the writing chemistry we had constructed up within the band.”
Tomlinson referred to as Payne “essentially the most important a part of One Path” and thanked him for shaping the band.
The singer then prolonged a private message to Payne, “if you happen to’re listening.”
Tomlinson mentioned he’s “past fortunate” to have had Payne in his life however is “actually battling the thought of claiming goodbye.”
“Reminiscing about all of the 1000’s of wonderful recollections we had collectively is a luxurious I assumed I’d have with you for all times,” he continued. “I’d have liked to share the stage with you once more but it surely wasn’t to be.”
Payne and Tomlinson have each admitted to having an often tense relationship whereas they have been members of One Path. Throughout an notorious interview on Logan Paul’s podcast Impaulsive, Payne in 2022 mentioned he and Tomlinson despised each other to the purpose of bodily arguments.
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Although Payne’s Impaulsive interview was not well-received by One Path followers, Tomlinson later defended his bandmate and mentioned the podcast hosts have been “disrespectful” and took benefit of Payne, who had relapsed on his sobriety.
Tomlinson mentioned he and Payne turned nearer associates after One Path introduced its hiatus in 2015.
Zayn Malik
Malik mentioned he’s been “speaking out loud” to Payne since information of his demise.
“I can’t assist however suppose selfishly that there are such a lot of extra conversations for us to have in our lives.” Malik, 31, wrote. “I by no means bought to thanks for supporting me by way of a number of the most troublesome instances in my life.”
“After I was lacking residence as a 17 12 months previous child you’d at all times be there with a optimistic outlook and reassuring smile and let me know that you simply have been my pal and that I liked,” he remembered.
Malik mentioned he admired Payne, although they “butted heads” usually of their youth.
“I at all times secretly revered you for it,” Malik revealed of their arguments.
The Pillowtalk singer mentioned Payne was at all times essentially the most “certified” musician and member of One Path.
“I misplaced a brother whenever you left us and might’t clarify to you what I’d give to simply offer you a hug one final time and say goodbye to you correctly and inform you that I liked and revered you dearly,” Malik concluded. “I’ll cherish all of the recollections I’ve with you in my coronary heart eternally, there isn’t any phrases that justify or clarify how I really feel proper now aside from past devastated.”
Malik instantly left One Path in 2015, and the band members continued for a number of months with out him earlier than saying their hiatus.
He and Payne had a tumultuous relationship, which Payne spoke about — and later apologized for — on the Impaulsive podcast.
Earlier this 12 months, Malik mentioned he was grateful to be part of One Path, however wished he had “loved” the expertise extra in his youthful years.
“I’m grateful that I’m in a position to be happier now,” Zayn mentioned in an interview.
Harry Types
Types shared a brief assertion about Payne to Instagram on Thursday and mentioned he’s “actually devastated” by his bandmate’s demise.
“His biggest pleasure was making different folks blissful, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” Types, 30, wrote. “Liam lived huge open, along with his coronary heart on his sleeve, he had an power for all times that was infectious.”
“He was heat, supportive, and extremely loving,” Types mentioned of Payne. “The years we spent collectively will eternally stay among the many most cherished years of my life.”
Types mentioned his “coronary heart breaks” for Payne’s members of the family, his son and “all these all over the world who knew him and liked him, as I did.”
Types has usually spoken positively about his expertise in One Path and has credited the band’s growth for his solo success.
In a 2022 interview with Zane Lowe, forward of the discharge of his album Harry’s Home, Types reminisced concerning the One Path years. He recalled the primary time the bandmates’ photograph collectively was revealed in a neighborhood newspaper, and the way “blissful” the then-teenagers have been over the little success.
Niall Horan
The final One Path member to share a tribute to Payne was Horan, who was additionally the band member to satisfy Payne in particular person most just lately.
Two weeks forward of his demise, Payne attended Horan’s stadium live performance in Argentina. Payne was seen dancing in a personal field on the venue forward of and through the present, then met with Horan afterward.
In a press release posted to social media Friday, Horan mentioned he’s “devastated by the passing of my superb pal, Liam.”
Horan, 31, mentioned he feels “lucky” to have seen Payne just lately.
“I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him, I’d be saying goodbye eternally,” he wrote. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Horan mentioned Payne’s demise “simply doesn’t really feel actual.”
“Liam had an power for all times and a ardour for work that was infectious,” he continued. “He was the brightest in each room and at all times made everybody really feel blissful and safe.”
“All of the laughs we had over time, generally concerning the easiest of issues, maintain coming to thoughts by way of the unhappiness,” Horan wrote. “We bought to stay out our wildest goals collectively and I’ll cherish each second we had eternally. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t occur usually in a lifetime.”
Niall prolonged nicely needs to Payne’s household and thanked his bandmate for “every part.”
In 2023, Horan mentioned One Path “feels prefer it’s a separate life now.”
Horan mentioned he has “a great outlook on issues, trying again” and was grateful he “didn’t lose the plot alongside the way in which.”
Who was Liam Payne?
The members of One Path met in 2010 on the U.Okay. singing competitors The X Issue, when judges together with Simon Cowell paired the then-teenage boys collectively in a gaggle act.
Payne had already auditioned for The X Issue two years prior however was eradicated early on. His profitable second try at 16 years previous positioned Payne as a pacesetter among the many 5 One Path boys, recognized for his or her rowdy shenanigans.
One Path’s success was explosive. Till the band introduced its hiatus in 2015, the members’ faces might generally be discovered plastered on the bed room partitions of youngsters all over the world.
Right now, these followers are mourning the demise of their parasocial relationships with Payne, alongside the One Path members, who misplaced a beloved “brother.”