London
CNN
—
Rita Ora paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne whereas internet hosting the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on Sunday.
Wearing a sober black swimsuit, the British singer-songwriter addressed the viewers towards the tip of the awards present on the Co-op Reside area in Manchester, England: “I simply wish to take a second to recollect somebody that was very, very pricey to us.”
“We misplaced him lately and he was an enormous a part of the MTV world and my world and I feel a variety of yours at dwelling and all people in right here tonight,” she continued.
“Liam Payne was one of many kindest those that I knew,” Ora stated, to a cheer from the group.
“There have been so many ways in which we had been speaking about honoring him and, I feel, generally simply merely talking is sufficient,” she added, her voice shaky and with tears in her eyes.
“He had the largest coronary heart and was at all times the primary particular person to supply assist in any manner that he might,” she continued. “He introduced a lot pleasure to each room he walked into and he left such a mark on this world.”
Turning into extra tearful, she stated, “So, let’s simply take a second to recollect our good friend Liam.”
Pictures of the previous One Course member then appeared in a video onscreen because the band’s 2014 tune “Evening Modifications” performed.
Payne died on October 16 at age 31 after falling from the third ground of a lodge in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. Three people are facing preliminary charges for crimes associated to his demise.
In 2018, Payne and Ora collaborated on the tune “For You,” which featured on the soundtrack of erotic drama “Fifty Shades Freed” and peaked at quantity 8 on the UK’s official singles chart.
“I can’t even sing this proper now,” Ora stated whereas performing the song at her Tokyo live performance days after Payne’s demise.
One Direction racked up a number of EMAs earlier than splitting in 2015. This yr’s awards celebrated winners together with Taylor Swift for greatest artist, Raye for greatest UK & Eire act, Sabrina Carpenter for greatest tune (“Espresso”), Benson Boone for greatest new artist and Tyla for greatest R&B.
MTV canceled last year’s EMAs because of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas warfare.