Rita Ora pays tearful tribute to Liam Payne at MTV EMAs: ‘He had the biggest heart’ | CNN

Rita Ora delivered a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne during her role as host at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on Sunday.

Wearing a sleek black suit, the British singer-songwriter spoke to the crowd near the conclusion of the awards ceremony at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England: “I’d like to take a minute to honor someone who meant a great deal to us.”

"We recently lost him, and he played a significant role in both the MTV world and my life. I believe many of you at home, as well as everyone here tonight, feel the same way."

"Liam Payne was among the most genuinely nice individuals I've ever met," Ora remarked, eliciting applause from the audience.

"We considered numerous ways to pay tribute to him, and I believe that sometimes, just sharing our thoughts is sufficient," she said, her voice trembling and tears welling up in her eyes.

“He was incredibly kind-hearted and always ready to lend a hand whenever it was needed,” she went on. “He filled every space with happiness and left a lasting impression on everyone around him.”

As her voice shook with emotion, she said, “Let’s pause for a moment to honor our friend Liam.”

Footage of the former One Direction member was featured in a video as the band’s 2014 track “Night Changes” played in the background.

Payne passed away on October 16 at the age of 31 after a fall from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Three individuals are currently facing initial allegations connected to his death.

In 2018, Payne and Ora teamed up for the track “For You,” which was included in the soundtrack of the erotic film “Fifty Shades Freed.” The song reached as high as number 8 on the official UK singles chart.

"I just can't bring myself to sing this at the moment," Ora expressed while on stage during her concert in Tokyo, just days after Payne's passing.

One Direction won several EMAs before their breakup in 2015. This year's event honored various artists such as Taylor Swift for best artist, Raye for best act from the UK and Ireland, Sabrina Carpenter for her song "Espresso" as best song, Benson Boone for best new artist, and Tyla for best R&B.

Last year, MTV decided to cancel the EMAs because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.