Liam Payne death latest: Harry Styles says he’s ‘truly devastated’ in tribute as authorities prepare autopsy

Following the official joint One Direction statement earlier, Louis Tomlinson has shared a heartfelt personal message on his Instagram.

Tomlinson wrote: “I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul.

“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. Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band. And for the record, 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.

“A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be. I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X”

In a statement signed “Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry”, Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates said: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing.

“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.

“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.

“For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.

“We will miss him terribly.

“We love you Liam.”

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Jodie Richards, a close friend of Payne’s who taught him at her performing arts company Pink Productions in Wolverhampton, has revealed the messages he sent her just hours before his death.

Richards said there was nothing unusual about the messages, with Payne checking in about what she was up to and sending a photograph of him in his hotel room.

“I’m really close to Liam, we’ve been friends for years and he was away yesterday in Argentina and I think he just wanted to touch base and check I was okay, see how everyone was back at home.” she told Sky News.

“We speak near enough every day and have done for years. Obviously he’s always been there at times I’ve needed him even though he’s not local.”

“He was looking forward to his day, he said he was having a chill, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.”

The 41-year-old added: “He seemed fine, he looked happy, he looked healthy - no reason for any kind of concern and then obviously I heard it on the news.”

She said her initial reaction was disbelief. “I thought it was fake news, I tried to phone him,” she said. “Obviously he wasn’t answering. I tried to text him, it wasn’t going to a ‘read’ message - normally it does quite quickly, then as I turned the telly on it was getting more and more apparent it wasn’t fake.”

Both in the band and out of it, the pop star struggled to find his defining identity, writes Mark Beaumont. Attempts at telling the world who he is with a second solo album and a documentary fell on deaf ears. His life now cut tragically short, the singer may remain elusive forever

The singer and actor Noah Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus and younger sister of Miley Cyrus, grew up as a passionate fan of One Direction.

The 24-year-old wrote an emotional post on her Instagram Stories in reaction to the shocking news of Liam Payne’s death:

“I’m not ever gonna be able to fully voice how I am feeling but..

“I feel so fortunate to have been in the same generation as Liam Payne and the phenomenon of 1D..

“Liam you are so loved and will always be loved by so many.

“This is the most devastating, awful, heart breaking news. I’m sending so much love to his family, girlfriend, and the close people around him.

“As someone who eat sleep breathed one direction and being apart of that fandom was such as huge part of my life and so many others. We are so lucky to have been apart of that fandom.

“We are so lucky to have known Liam Payne the singer and performer. But my heart goes out to the Liam Payne who was suffering behind closed doors. My heart goes out to his fans as well because I’m absolutely crushed and I imagine so many are so broken by the loss of someone so special.

“Thank you for the laughs, smiles, and songs. You will live forever through those. You will never be forgotten.

“Rest in peace Liam. I really wish you so much peace beyond this world. You deserve it.”

Pop star and actor Halsey has paid tribute to Liam Payne in a social media post. The 30-year-old has often described herself as a huge fan of One Direction, and in 2021 she bought a Calabasas compound from Payne for over $10m.

Writing on her personal tumblr @tiredandlonelymuse, Halsey said:

“i loved one direction with an all-consuming force when i was younger. it hurts deeply to mourn someone you were a massive fan of as teenager, and became a peer of as an adult.

“i know people change and grief is unsure or complicated when it’s attached to a fond memory or the feeling a person gave you and not tangibly the person themself. i can see many of you on here are struggling with that right now and i understand.

“a few years ago i purchased a home that Liam previously owned. there were rumors the house was haunted. He assured me it was not, and i believed him. because i know the ghosts that haunt us aren’t tethered to buildings. They live in parts of us that are harder to reach and they go wherever we do.

“as a parent, a fellow artist, and a fan, i simply cannot fathom this untimely loss. my heart goes out to his family, friends, and the fans.”

Liam Payne has died aged 31, after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The One Direction singer was in a relationship with influencer Kate Cassidy at the time of his death, while ex-fiancée Maya Henry had issued a cease and desist last week alleging that the musician continued to contact her.

Prior to meeting Cassidy in October 2022, and Henry in 2019, Liam was in a relationship with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.

The pair share one seven-year-old son together, Bear.

We break down the timeline of the couple’s unconventional meeting and subsequent relationship below.

Fans of the One Direction singer took to social media to express their grief – but, asks Ryan Coogan, aren’t there better ways to pay tribute than with reaction gifs and emojis?