One Direction members say they are ‘devastated’ by loss of Liam Payne

Liam Payne's former band members from One Direction have expressed that they are heartbroken and will deeply miss him.

Payne, 31, gained recognition through his participation in The X Factor as part of a boy band. He tragically passed away after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A message from Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan expressed their profound sorrow at hearing about Liam's death.

"Eventually, when everyone is ready, there will be more to share."

"For the time being, we need to focus on mourning and coming to terms with the loss of our beloved brother."

“The moments we had together will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

At this time, we are thinking of his family, friends, and all the fans who cherished him just like we did.

"We're going to feel his absence deeply. We care about you, Liam."

Band members started sharing individual messages late Thursday. Styles, who is 30 years old, expressed that he was "completely heartbroken" over Payne's passing.

"He found his deepest happiness in bringing joy to others, and it was a privilege to be by his side while he did so," Styles expressed. "Liam embraced life fully and wore his emotions openly. His enthusiasm for life was contagious. He was kind, encouraging, and filled with affection. The time we shared will always hold a special place in my heart. I will always miss you, my dear friend."

Tomlinson, 32, described Payne as “the heart and soul of One Direction” and mentioned that he plans to share stories with his young son Bear about how incredible his father was.

"It's incredibly painful for me to share this, but I lost a brother yesterday," he expressed.

"Liam was a person I admired daily; he had a great sense of humor, a positive attitude, and a genuinely kind nature."

The music star expressed that he was "immediately blown away" by Payne's singing when they first met. He also mentioned that he finally got to experience the kind-hearted brother he had always wished for throughout his life.

"Liam was an amazing songwriter with an exceptional ear for melody. We frequently discussed the idea of returning to the studio together, hoping to capture the same creative spark we had developed while in the band," he shared.

Malik, who is 31 years old, shared that he often finds himself speaking aloud to his deceased friend, wishing that his friend can hear what he’s saying.

“I never had the chance to express my gratitude for being there for me during some of the toughest times I've faced,” he wrote. “When I was a lonely 17-year-old, you were always around with your uplifting attitude and warm smile, reminding me that I had a friend and that I was cared for. Despite being younger, you always seemed wiser than I was. You were determined, outspoken, and didn’t hesitate to point out when others were mistaken. We clashed because of this more than once, but deep down, I always admired you for it.”

An autopsy report revealed that Payne passed away due to various injuries and both internal and external bleeding caused by the fall.

According to reports, hotel employees contacted emergency services twice. Audio recordings show that a staff member requested help for a guest who was "under the influence of drugs and alcohol."

Authorities in Buenos Aires reported that the music star's hotel room was left in total chaos, with several items damaged.

The singer's family shared their heartbreak with PA through a spokesperson, stating, "Liam will always hold a special place in our hearts. We will cherish the memories of his kind, humorous, and courageous spirit."

Well-known personalities from the music world have honored the artist, who started a solo journey following One Direction's indefinite break in 2016.

Jade Thirlwall, the ex-member of Little Mix, shared on her Instagram story that Payne was the “first friend I made in this industry.” Meanwhile, Marvin Humes from JLS mentioned on his Kiss FM show that he felt an immediate connection with Payne when they first met back in 2008, noting that the band supported him during their time on The X Factor.

On Wednesday evening, fans of One Direction gathered in Argentina to pay their respects following his passing. They honored his memory by lighting candles and placing flowers at a vigil.

During their peak, the band traveled all over the world and released four albums that reached the top of the charts. They also achieved four number one singles in the UK, including hits like "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Little Things."

The group, now a trio after Malik's departure, made an appearance on the Carpool Karaoke segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden, which accumulated over 200 million views on YouTube.

Gavin And Stacey co-creator Corden expressed on social media that Payne “had a wonderful and caring spirit” and noted, “I will always cherish the time I shared with him.”

Payne, originally from Wolverhampton, launched his first solo album titled LP1 in December 2019. The album featured tracks like "Polaroid" and "Strip That Down," which includes a collaboration with Quavo.

One of his most well-known tracks, "For You," was a partnership with artist Rita Ora, created for the 2018 movie Fifty Shades Freed.

Shortly after his passing, Ora performed their song with a picture of the two of them displayed on a screen behind her during a show in Osaka, Japan.