Niall Horan, an Irish singer and songwriter, has expressed his utter devastation over the untimely passing of his ex-One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne. Payne met his tragic end after falling off the third storey of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on a Wednesday evening. Prior to his demise, Payne, accompanied by his partner Kate Graham, was seen at Horan’s concert in the Movistar Arena, Buenos Aires, a fortnight earlier. Video clips captured Payne swaying and harmonising to one of Horan’s melodies.
Through an Instagram post, Horan candidly shared his grief and disbelief over Payne’s passing. He remembered Payne as full of life and ardour, and someone who always had a comforting and cheerful presence. Horan reminisced about the many shared laughs and memories, which were frequently about the simplest things. He expressed his gratitude for being able to live their wildest dreams together and cherished their remarkable bond and camaraderie, which he believes is a rarity nowadays.
He closed his tribute reflecting on his last encounter with Payne at the concert on the 2nd of October, expressing his heartbreak that the farewell hug they shared would be their last. Horan initially came to know Payne when he participated in The X Factor in 2010. The duo, along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, were suggested by guest judge Nicole Scherzinger to form a band instead of competing as individual performers. The band skyrocketed to global fame before taking a hiatus in 2016. Post their break, Horan, along with Harry Styles, made a name for themselves as prominent soloist singers.
Following an ongoing probe into the unexpected death of 31-year-old Payne, which included interviewing five witnesses to piece together his last few hours, it was determined that Payne was by himself at the time of the incident. Substances implying the use of alcohol and drugs were found in his hotel room.
His One Direction band members expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating that they are “absolutely heartbroken” by the tragic news of his demise. They fondly remembered their time with Payne, affirming that these cherished memories will always be remembered. The rest of the band – Louis, Zayn, Niall, and Harry released a statement saying they are still attempting to come to terms with this heartbreaking news. In honour of their lost brother, whom they held dear, they requested some solitude to grieve and cope with the loss.
Despite the abundance of sentiments left unsaid, the band requested for a more opportune time to elaborate on their feelings. For now, their thoughts are with his bereaved family, friends, and devoted fans who too are mourning his untimely passing. They convey their love to Payne, promising to remember him sorely.
Payne’s untimely death has initiated a renewed discourse on the treatment of celebrities in the music industry. Payne’s struggles with alcohol, drugs, and depression were no secret.
Mikey Graham, previously a member of the band Boyzone, suggested in a post on X that record labels should consider having psychologists available for their young talent, as a responsibility for their well-being and to prevent any potential damage that fame may bring in today’s reality.
Ed Sheeran paid his tributes to Payne urging everyone to exercise more kindness. Accompanied by a monochrome photo of Payne flashing a charming smile, Sheeran aired his heartache over the devastating situation, extending his deepest sympathies to Payne’s close ones.
Similarly, eulogising Payne as a gifted and good-looking lad, Robbie Williams advocated for increased compassion and understanding, especially on the internet. Williams reiterated the significance of kindness even toward renowned strangers. He appealed to be considerate before formulating judgments and venting them on digital platforms.
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