Louis Tomlinson and the official social channels for the band One Direction have paid tribute to Liam Payne, who died Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling three floors from a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother,” Tomlinson wrote on Instagram. “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 songwriter 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.”
Tomlinson also directed a statement to Payne, saying, “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”
The One Direction account on Instagram shared their own statement, atributting it to the band members.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” they wrote. “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. We love you Liam.”
One Direction first formed in 2010 after each member competed as solo acts on the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” The British boy band placed third on the show and were subsequently signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment. Payne, along with the other members of 1D, were introduced to the public through video diaries produced and distributed by “The X Factor,” establishing the traits of each member of the band and giving fans a more intimate understanding of their personalities.
The group went on to become one of the highest-selling boy bands of all time, with more than 70 million records moved worldwide and chart-topping hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life.” Concert films and highly attended tours followed.
In 2017, Payne debuted as a solo singer with “Strip That Down,” after One Direction had announced an indefinite hiatus the year prior and its other members ventured into their own careers. He released his debut album “LP1” in 2019, collaborating with J Balvin, Quavo and producer Zedd. Earlier this year, he put out hit latest single, “Teardrops.”