Liam Payne death latest: One Direction star’s sister says ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t save you’ in moving tribute

Niall Horan has shared a fresh tribute to his late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, reflecting on their recent meeting just two weeks ago.

The Irish singer, who rose to fame along with Payne and their bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik after competing on The X Factorin 2010, posted the statement to Instagram along with a sweet photo of them together.

“I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam,” Horan, 31, wrote. “It just doesn’t feel real.

“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and made everyone feel happy and secure.”

Read the full tribute here:

Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend Aliana Mawla has spoken out following the One Direction singer’s death aged 31.

The social media personality, who reportedly dated Payne after his breakup with ex-fiancée Maya Henry, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday (October 17), where she paid tribute to the pop star after he died Wednesday evening after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mawla shared a photo that appeared to show Payne at a concert, writing over the image: “I’m sorry this happened to you… will forever love and miss you.”

In another Instagram Story post, the “Strip That Down” singer’s hand appeared to be interlocked in Mawla’s, showing off his “L” and “P” tattoos on each of his hands, as her thumb was placed in between.

Sharon Osbourne has hit out at the music industry for “letting down” Liam Payne, who has died aged 31.

The One Direction star’s friends and millions of fans are already paying tribute to the singer, who police say fell from a third-floor hotel balcony. He is survived by his parents, his two older sisters, and his seven-year-old son, Bear.

Payne’s family said in a statement: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

While several of Payne’s fellow X Factor contestants have addressed the sudden pressures of fame in their tributes to the singer, Osbourne – a former judge on the show where One Direction was formed – has now waded in, declaring: “We all let you down.”

Osbourne, who said her “heart aches” over the news of Payne’s death, was a judge on The X Factor’s early series from 2004 to 2007, but was no longer a part of the show when Payne was put into One Direction by Simon Cowell and guest judge Nicole Scherzinger. She returned for one series in 2013.

Liam Payne died of multiple traumatic injuries caused by falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, local police said on Thursday.

A preliminary autopsy indicated that Payne had suffered “internal and external” hemorrhages and multiple traumatic injuries, according to the report seen by multiple outlets. Officials said Payne’s plunge from the third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel was what caused his fatal injuries.

A toxicology report is still pending.

The One Direction singer was pronounced dead on Wednesday (October 16), after emergency services responded to a hotel manager’s call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

Full story:

Robbie Williams has shared his thoughts on the pressures of being under the spotlight as he paid tribute to the late One Direction singer Liam Payne.

The musician died from multiple traumatic injuries caused by falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services responded to a hotel manager’s call about a guest “under the influence of alcohol and drugs” who could “do something that could put his life at risk”. He was 31.

Williams, who rose to fame in the Nineties with boyband Take That and went on to mentor One Direction on X Factor, shared his final interaction with Payne – an email exchange from June 2022 that sees Williams giving the singer advice and telling him he is “proud” of him.

In the email messages shared by Williams, Payne tells the “Angels” singer his support “means the world”.

“I’m nervous as hell about it but I won’t back out, you have my word, wish me luck,” Payne says, to which Williams responds: “F*** yeah... go get it... very proud of you. Massive x.”

Former X Factor contestant Katie Waissel, who appeared in the same series as Liam Payne and his One Direction bandmates, has hit out at show creator Simon Cowell following the singer’s death.

Payne died in a fall from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday 16 October. Local authorities are carrying out an autopsy, with the preliminary results released yesterday (17 October).

Waissel shared a lengthy statement upon the news of Payne’s death, calling him her “dear friend” and her “confident”, who offered her support during some of her “darkest moments” while on The X Factor.

“Liam was kind, with a pure heart, a sharp mind, and the wisdom of an old soul,” she said. “His warmth and compassion left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

“His tragic passing not only leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who loved him but also serves as a painful reminder of the systemic neglect that persists in the industry.”

Full story:

Cheryl Cole, the former X Factor judge who shares son Bear with Liam Payne, has issued a statement following the death of the One Direction singer.

The 41-year-old Girls Aloud star took to Instagram on Friday (October 18) to share a black and white photo of Payne with their then-newborn son. In another slide, Cole took the opportunity to hit out at “abhorrent reports and media exploitation” after the singer’s passing on Wednesday evening in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she began her statement. “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven-year-old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.”

Cole continued: “What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future.”

Images taken of Liam Payne’s hotel room on Tuesday are a disturbing glimpse into the lead up to his death. Here’s what we know so far