One Direction has released an official statement regarding the untimely and tragic passing of former member Liam Payne.
On Instagram, the official account of One Direction, which has been inactive since 2020, posted a joint message from Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles.
According to the band, they are completely devastated by the news. They also ask fans to give them time to grieve the death of their brother.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” the band shares.
A few hours after the statement was released, Malik, Tomlinson, and Styles posted their thoughts on Payne’s demise.
According to Louis, Liam was the kind of brother he longed for all his life. He even added that he wanted to reunite with him on stage in the future.
“I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye,” he shares. “I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.”
Harry came back to Instagram after almost a year to share his message and was just as devastated. The Grammy winner has nothing but praise and compliments for the late star.
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life,” Styles says.
Malik also penned a heartbreaking message for his former bandmate.
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give just to give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,” he posts.
Along with Styles, Tomlinson, Malik, and Horan, Payne achieved worldwide success when One Direction was formed by The X Factor in 2010.
The British singer tragically passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina on October 16. He was 31.
Just two weeks ago, he was seen enjoying former bandmate Horan’s Buenos Aires concert.