Payne’s ‘completely devastated’ 1D co-stars in first tribute
Source: X/Nahueljuarezag
Liam Payne’s former One Direction co-stars have paid a poignant tribute to him, saying they are “completely devastated” by his death.
“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,” Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson wrote in a note to 1D’s 23 million Instagram followers on Friday (AEDT).
It follows the death of 31-year-old Payne from multiple traumas after he fell from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
“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,” the statement concluded.
Malik, Tomlinson and Styles also followed up with their own personal tributes.
Styles, perhaps the most individually famous of the 1D graduates, shared a picture to his 47 million Instagram followers of Payne on stage. He added a single black heart as a caption.
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles wrote.
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve; he had an energy for life that was infectious … The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always.”
Malik shared a photograph of himself and Payne, with the simple caption “love you bro” and signed with a heart emoji.
Tomlinson, meanwhile, said he had “lost a brother” and “somebody I looked up to every day”.
One Direction found global success after British X Factor judge Simon Cowell brought the five teenagers together in 2010.
They went on to sell 70 million records, with six top-10 hits on
Billboard‘s Hot 100, including What Makes You Beautiful, Story of
My Life and Live While We’re Young. Payne’s co-writing credits
included Story of My Life and Night Changes.
They split in 2015, with Payne largely pivoting to songwriting, collaborating with other artists and producing records in the near-decade since.
Friday’s tribute came as the prosecutors’ office in Beunos Aires released the first official details of the autopsy, saying coroners had found 25 injuries compatible with those caused by a fall from height, including fatal head injuries, and internal and external bleeding.
It added that there were no signs of the involvement of a third party, although Payne’s death was being investigated as “suspicious” out of protocol.
“Everything indicates that the musician was alone when the fall occurred, and was going through some kind of episode due to substance abuse,” the office said.
“City police who surveyed the scene found substances inside the room that at first glance – and pending confirmation from the experts – would be narcotics and alcoholic beverages, as well as several destroyed objects and furniture.”
Police earlier said they had found Payne’s room at the luxury Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires’ upmarket Palermo neighbourhood room in “total disorder” after his death, with items smashed and scattered medications.
While details surrounding his death remain unclear, Payne had spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and using alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
A smashed TV and white powder in Liam Payne’s hotel room in Buenos Aires. Photo: Supplied
Buenos Aires police said they had found a bottle of whiskey, a lighter and a mobile phone in the atrium of the hotel where Payne fell from a third-floor balcony. Fingerprints had been collected from all.
Police also found over-the-counter medications, energy packs and anxiety drug Clonazepam in Payne’s room at the Casa Sur Hotel.
“Upon entering, total disorder was observed, with various elements broken,” the police said, adding they had taken more fingerprints and other evidence to be analysed in labs.
Before Payne’s fall, a hotel employee had called emergency services, asking for help with a guest who was trashing his room and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, audio from the Buenos Aires security ministry revealed.
“When he’s conscious, he breaks, he’s breaking the whole room. And, well, we need you to send someone, please,” the hotel worker told police in the emergency call.
“We need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is at risk. He is in a room with a balcony. And, well, we are a little afraid that he will do something that will put his life at risk.”
-with AAP
