Following the tragic death of One Direction singer Liam Payne on October 16, his friends, family, and former bandmates have been expressing their grief and sharing memories of him. On Thursday, his ex-girlfriend, Alina Mawla, 26, posted on her Instagram Story, "I'm sorry this happened to you...will forever love and miss you," accompanied by a photo of Payne at a concert. She also shared a picture of herself holding hands with him, writing, "rest in paradise."

Payne had briefly dated Mawla in 2022, after his split from former fiancée Maya Henry, but at the time of his death, he was in a relationship with Kate Cassidy. He is survived by his son Bear, 7, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole, 41, as well as his parents, Geoff and Karen, and older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. In a joint statement, the family said, "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul."

Payne passed away suddenly at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, though an autopsy suggests he may have been unconscious at the time of the fatal fall. Witnesses reported Payne was acting "erratic" before his tragic passing.

Payne was in Argentina with his girlfriend Cassidy to support his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan, who had a show there. Horan, along with the rest of One Direction, has paid tribute to Payne. Horan posted a photo of himself giving Payne a piggyback ride, writing, "I'm absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn't feel real."

Harry Styles also shared his grief, posting on Instagram, "I am truly devastated by Liam's passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it." Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson also posted emotional tributes, expressing their deep sorrow and the loss of a brother.

The former One Direction members shared a joint statement on the band's Instagram account, which had been inactive since 2020. "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. 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," they wrote. "The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. 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."

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