is speaking out following the death of his former One Direction bandmate at the age of 31.
“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,” Tomlinson, 32, began on Thursday, October 17, via Instagram. “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.”
Tomlinson continued with 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,” he wrote. 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.”
News broke on Wednesday, October 16, that Payne died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Us Weekly confirmed the musician’s death via a police report.
Tomlinson and Payne were two of the five original members of One Direction, which was formed in 2010 on The X Factor UK. The pair performed alongside , and , finishing the singing competition in third place. One Direction was later signed by ‘s Syco Records and became one of the best-selling boy groups of all time.
One Direction released four albums before Malik, 31, announced in March 2015 that he was leaving the band. The four remaining singers worked together on one more album, 2015’s Made in the A.M., before going on an indefinite hiatus to pursue solo ventures.
Though the band itself didn’t last forever, the bond formed between its members continued. During a 2022 appearance on the “Impaulsive” podcast, however, Payne hinted at behind-the-scenes tension at the peak of the group’s popularity.
“Louis was wild. And he wanted to be wild. That’s his spirit,” he claimed. “He’s my best mate now but in the band, we hated each other. Like, to come to blows hated each other. It was close.”
One year later, Payne stepped out to support Tomlinson at the March 2023 premiere of his documentary, All of Those Voices.
“Seeing the world through your eyes last night was the most beautiful thing to experience,” Payne wrote in a social media tribute to his former bandmate at the time. “My neck hurts from how much I’m looking up to you right now you were already my friend and brother but getting to look through that window into your world and mind I just extends that respect I have for you.”
Payne went on to apologize for any instances that he might have let down his friend, writing, “At least I have time now and I’m me again so will try and make amends. I’m so thankful to have you in my life mate I feel so lucky and I know you know this but you were part of a small group of people that literally saved my life, you dragged me out of something so dark I’ve never shared it but your approach is something I admire and aspire to so I can one day do the same.”
Gushing that he was “so proud” of Tomlinson’s vulnerability — the documentary took a deep dive into Tomlinson’s rise to stardom and his path as a solo artist — Payne encouraged fans to watch the film.
“You worked harder than any of us to get here and now the world gets to see that from your side,” his message to Tomlinson concluded. “Thank you Louis and congratulations you deserve all these moments, every sight you get to see, every cheer that you hear and all the love you are receiving from the world.”
