One Direction bandmates pay tribute to Liam Payne

The members of iconic band One Direction have paid tribute to their bandmate, Liam Payne saying they are “completely devastated” hearing the news of their friend’s death.

In a statement signed by all four members – Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Harry Styles –they said: “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say”.

The 31-year-old singer died after falling from a balcony at a hotel in Argentina on Wednesday.

His family said they were “heartbroken” as they paid tribute to a “kind, funny and brave soul”, after his death.

In a separate Instagram post Zayn Malik wrote he is “beyond devastated”.

“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly,” Malik says in a post alongside a picture of him and Payne, taken when the two were younger.

 

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A post shared by Zayn Malik (@zayn)

“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me,” Malik says, reminiscing on their time together as teenagers. He says Payne was always the “more sensible” one and “the most qualified” musically.

“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever,” he adds. “Love you bro.”

Louis wrote he has “lost a brother”.

“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,” he writes on the social media site.

For the record, he says, “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.”

 

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A post shared by Louis Tomlinson (@louist91)

He goes on to say that if Payne’s son Bear – who he shared with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy – “ever needs me I will be the uncle he needs in his life”.