Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik was seen leaving the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, held at St Mary's church in Amersham, west of London on November 20, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Singer Zayn Malik, who had postponed the US leg of his Stairway to the Sky tour following the tragic death of Liam Payne, has resumed his performances and paid a heartfelt tribute to his former bandmate. According to People, Malik concluded his show at the O2 Academy in Leeds, England, with a moving homage to Payne, who passed away on October 16 at the age of 31. As his song Stardust played, a message about Payne appeared on the screen, captured in a fan-recorded video. The screen displayed, 'Liam Payne 1993-2024,' over a blue background with a red heart, followed by 'Love you bro.'
Payne, a former member of One Direction, tragically died on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Just over a month after his death, mourners gathered on Wednesday for a private funeral service held at a secret location near London. The service was attended by Payne's former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan, along with his family, close friends, and other prominent figures. Simon Cowell, who discovered and signed One Direction on The X Factor in 2010, and television presenter James Corden were also present. Zayn Malik rescheduled dates on his UK tour to attend the funeral.
Malik's appearance at the funeral came shortly after he had rescheduled dates for his tour. On October 19, just three days after Payne's death, Malik announced the postponement of the US leg of his Stairway to the Sky tour. He shared an update on his Instagram stories, stating, 'Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I've made the decision to postpone the US leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour. The dates are being rescheduled for January and I'll post them as soon as it's all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates, love you all and thank you for your understanding.'
On October 17, Malik and his bandmates shared a group statement expressing their profound sorrow over Payne's untimely death. Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan said, '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. 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.' Each member of the group also took to social media to share individual tributes, reflecting on their deep connection with Payne. Malik revealed that he had been speaking to his late friend, 'hoping you can hear me.' He reminisced about their bond, stating, 'I lost a brother when you left us, and can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly,' reported People.
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