One Direction fans are paying a lasting tribute to Liam Payne following his untimely death at the age of 31. Many have chosen to get a tattoo of five arrows, mirroring the one Payne had on his arm, as a way to honor him. According to the Daily Mail, the five arrows symbolize the five members of the boy band: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Payne himself. The late singer had a tattoo of four arrows on his arm, which was believed to represent the other four members of the group.
Although this design has been popular among One Direction fans for over a decade, TikTok users have recently been sharing a new version: adding angel wings to the arrow representing Payne. One fan, Chani, opted for a colorful version of the arrows, sharing on social media, "Finally took the step to get my One Direction tattoo, but in the saddest way possible — for Liam Payne." She continued, "I always imagined it would be a happier moment, not under these circumstances. I would’ve chosen a different time, a different reason, but now feels right. I’m proud I pushed through the pain and cost to honor Liam in this way. These tattoos will help me process my grief and keep his memory close."
Another user shared that they had "finally got the tattoo" they’ve wanted for a long time, but with the addition of angel wings to pay tribute to the "Strip That Down" artist. One Direction was formed on the "X Factor" in 2010 and released four albums before disbanding in 2015 following Malik’s departure from the band in March of that year.
On Saturday, Payne’s sister Ruth Gibbins posted a heartbreaking tribute on social media, expressing her sorrow and regret for not being able to "save" him. "I don’t believe this is happening," she began on Instagram. "No one could ever make me laugh as much as him, doing his impressions always had me creasing and he loved seeing how much of a laugh he could get." Gibbins also shared some of her favorite memories with Payne, including picking him up after One Direction concerts and having tea together after work.
Gibbins noted Payne’s personal struggles over the years, saying, "I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you." She added, "You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time." Gibbins promised to "take care of" Payne’s 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with ex Cheryl Cole, ensuring he will always know how incredible his father was.
Payne tragically fell to his death from the third floor of his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday. Medical officials confirmed that the star had a "cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death." Witnesses told TMZ Payne was acting "erratic" before his sudden passing, allegedly smashing his laptop in the hotel lobby and being carried back to his room before the fall.
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