TV presenter Adrian Chiles has been defended on social media after initially facing mockery for wearing a West Bromwich Albion coat to Liam Payne’s funeral.
The former Match of the Day 2 host attended the private ceremony in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday, where he stood out among mourners in his football club-branded attire.
What began as confusion and criticism on social media quickly turned to appreciation when the touching reason behind Chiles’s choice of outfit emerged.
The coat was revealed to be a heartfelt tribute to the late One Direction star, who had formed a close friendship with Chiles through their shared passion for West Brom.
Chiles revealed how their friendship began when Payne approached him after appearing on The X Factor in 2010.
“He came up to me and said ‘up the Albion’ – he was a West Brom fan,” Chiles recalled on his Radio 5 Live show.
Adrian Chiles attended Liam Payne’s funeral paying tribute to their love of West Brom football club
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Their bond grew through shared match experiences, with Chiles once helping the pop star attend a Boxing Day game discreetly.
“We managed to secrete our man up in the commentary gantry so he didn’t get bothered,” Chiles explained.
The visit caused such a stir that West Brom began trending on Twitter after Payne tweeted about his attendance.
Payne was a season ticket holder at The Hawthorns and proudly declared himself a “huge West Brom supporter” during his 2022 Soccer Aid appearance.
Liam Payne was laid to rest surrounded by his friends, family and former One Direction bandmates
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Social media users quickly rallied to defend Chiles’s choice of attire after learning of its significance.
Writer Charlie Herbert posted: “You see this and initially think it’s a bit funny and weird, and then you learn he and Liam went to West Brom games together, and it suddenly becomes a beautifully touching tribute. What a lovely man.”
Fans described it as a “nice touch” and a “fitting tribute” after initial mockery on X.
“I initially had no idea how they even knew each other; this is a heartwarming touch from Chiles,” wrote one social media user.
The private funeral was held in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday, one month after Payne’s death at age 31.
His former One Direction bandmates Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were among those paying their respects.
Kate Cassidy arrived to say goodbye to her boyfriend
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Girls singer Cheryl Cole, Payne’s former partner and mother of their son Bear, attended alongside her bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.
Simon Cowell, who discovered Payne on The X Factor, was also present.
West Bromwich Albion paid tribute to Payne following his death, stating: “We’re shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Baggies fan and musician, Liam Payne. Our thoughts are with Liam’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time.”