Louis Tomlinson has paid a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne following the tragic news of Payne's fatal fall from a third-floor balcony in Argentina. Tomlinson, 32, took to Instagram on Thursday to express his grief over the sudden loss of his former One Direction bandmate.
"I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to every day, such a positive, funny, and kind soul," Tomlinson wrote. He reminisced about how he was "instantly amazed" by Payne's voice and how, over time, he came to see him as the brother he had always longed for.
Tomlinson also credited Payne for his role in shaping One Direction. In a poignant message directed at Payne, Tomlinson expressed his struggle with the idea of saying goodbye. "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 continued, "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," adding that he wished he had the chance to say goodbye and tell Payne one more time how much he loved him. Tomlinson signed off with, "Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X."
The bond between the two was forged through the success of One Direction, but their relationship wasn't always smooth. Payne admitted they "hated" each other when they first started their journey as a boy band. The group, which also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan, was formed by Simon Cowell on "The X Factor" in 2010. One Direction went on to become one of the highest-selling boy bands of all time, with hits like "Story Of My Life" and "What Makes You Beautiful."
Despite the band's split in 2015, with Malik being the first to leave, Tomlinson and Payne remained close. When Tomlinson's mother, Johannah, passed away from leukemia in 2016, Payne offered his support with a heartfelt note. "I am so sorry for you, my brother," he wrote. "My heart aches for you. Just know I love you the same from a million miles away as I do right next to you. I'm always here for you through everything as you have been for me."
In recent years, Payne expressed his regrets for not being there more for Tomlinson during tough times. After attending Tomlinson's documentary "All of Those Voices" in March 2023, Payne wrote on Instagram, "Seeing the world through your eyes last night was the most beautiful thing to experience." He acknowledged the respect he had for Tomlinson and his struggles, and vowed to be a better friend.
Payne's death on October 16, 2023, at the age of 31, was initially reported as a jump from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. However, the autopsy report indicated that he had fallen. Officials are still investigating whether it was an accident or intentional. Payne's family released a statement expressing their grief and requesting privacy during this difficult time.
