CNN
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Harry Types, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, previously of pop group One Course, mentioned in a press release launched Thursday that they’re “fully devastated” by the death of their former bandmate Liam Payne, who they known as their “brother.”
“The reminiscences we shared with him will probably be treasured endlessly. For now, our ideas are together with his household, his associates, and the followers who cherished him alongside us,” Types, Horan, Malik and Tomlinson mentioned in a joint assertion posted Thursday to the band’s Instagram web page. “We are going to miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Their assertion added: “In time, and when everybody is ready to, there will probably be extra to say. However for now, we are going to take a while to grieve and course of the lack of our brother, who we cherished dearly.”
Payne died on Wednesday after falling from the third flooring of the CasaSur Palermo Lodge in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.
The police investigation into the circumstances of his loss of life is ongoing, in keeping with police in Buenos Aires.
“I’m actually devastated by Liam’s passing. His best pleasure was making different folks completely satisfied, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” Types wrote in a separate assertion posted to his Instagram web page Thursday. “Liam lived broad open, together with his coronary heart on his sleeve, he had an vitality for all times that was infectious.”
Types wrote that the years he spent with Payne, who he described as “heat supportive, and extremely loving,” will all the time stay “among the many most cherished years of my life.”
Tomlinson additionally individually paid tribute to Payne, writing on his Instagram web page earlier on Thursday that he’s “past devastated” in regards to the lack of Payne, who he known as “a brother.”
“Liam was anyone I appeared as much as on a regular basis, such a constructive, humorous, and sort soul,” Tomlinson wrote. “And for the document, Liam was for my part essentially the most very important a part of One Course. His expertise from a younger age, his good pitch, his stage presence, his present for writing. The listing goes on. Thanks for shaping us Liam.”
Tomlinson ended his tribute with transferring point out of Payne’s son in a portion of his assertion during which he straight addressed his former bandmate.
“I would like you to know that if Bear ever wants me, I would be the Uncle he wants in his life and inform him tales of how superb his dad was,” he wrote.
Malik additionally posted a tribute to his Instagram web page Thursday, writing that he wished he might give Payne “a hug one final time.”
“Once I was lacking residence as a 17 yr outdated child you’d all the time be there with a constructive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you have been my pal and that I used to be cherished,” he wrote, straight addressing Payne.
Malik additionally mentioned that regardless that Payne was youthful, “you have been all the time extra smart than me, you have been headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f***s about telling folks after they have been fallacious.”
“Regardless that we butted heads due to this just a few occasions, I all the time secretly revered you for it,” he added.
Payne and Malik had a sophisticated previous, stemming from their time collectively as bandmates, which Payne touched on in the 2022 podcast “Impaulsive with Logan Paul.” He later apologized for his feedback in a 2023 video posted to his YouTube web page, saying that what he mentioned “got here from the fallacious place.”
One Course was famously assembled in 2010 by producer Simon Cowell, who took discover of Payne, Types, Malik, Tomlinson and Horan’s musical skills after they auditioned for the UK model of “The X-Issue.”
The group had a meteoric rise to fame, changing into the primary band to have its first 4 albums declare the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Identified for hit songs together with “What Makes You Lovely,” “Finest Tune Ever,” and “Story of My Life,” the group stays one of many best-selling boy bands of all time, having bought greater than 70 million data worldwide.
Malik left the group in 2015, spawning the announcement that One Course was happening an “indefinite hiatus” the next yr. All 5 former members went on to pursue solo careers, together with Payne, who launched his most up-to-date single “Teardrops” in March.
Whereas their friendships have evolved by the years, Payne had made an effort to remain related together with his former bandmates at the same time as he struggled with habit and his psychological well being, one thing he’d beforehand spoken brazenly about.
Via his struggles, Payne mentioned that “all of the boys” have been there to help him.
“I’ve suffered a little bit of a darkish time in my life in the mean time and to be sincere, I wouldn’t be right here with out the boys,” Payne instructed On Demand Entertainment in a purple carpet interview at Tomlinson’s “All Of These Voices” documentary premiere final yr.
Simply weeks earlier than his loss of life, Payne was seen in Argentina attending Horan’s live performance, posting movies of himself dancing and singing alongside on his Snapchat web page.
There was an outpouring of grief and tributes for Payne from his supporters around the globe.
Followers have been leaving notes and flowers on the iconic red phone sales space positioned on the Onerous Rock Cafe in Picadilly Circus that was used within the cowl picture of One Course’s album “Take Me House,” The Unbiased reported Thursday.
Payne’s household beforehand mentioned a statement that they’re “heartbroken” by his loss of life, in keeping with the UK’s PA Media information company.
“Liam will endlessly reside in our hearts and we’ll bear in mind him for his form, humorous and courageous soul,” the assertion learn. “We’re supporting one another the most effective we will as a household and ask for privateness and house at this terrible time.”
On Thursday, “Britain’s Received Expertise,” a UK-based expertise competitors present that Cowell co-created and serves as a choose on, postponed auditions following Payne’s loss of life, Fremantle UK, the manufacturing firm that oversees the present, mentioned in a press release.
“Our ideas are with Liam’s associates, household and all who cherished him,” the assertion learn.
This can be a growing story and will probably be up to date.