One Direction’s Liam Payne died Wednesday after he reportedly jumped from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. It’s been almost nine years since the British-Irish boyband’s final performance, and the official One Direction Instagram account has mostly been dormant since then. But today, Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik — the latter of whom walked away from the group in 2015 — shared a rare post in his memory.
One Direction’s statement reads:
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.
Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry
Styles, Tomlinson, Malik, and Horan also shared individual tribute posts on their own social media accounts. Styles wrote that Payne “lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”
Tomlinson shared that Payne was “the most vital part of One Direction,” adding: “Liam if you’re listening… I want you to know that if Bear [Payne’s son] ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.”
Simon Cowell, who helped form One Direction as a judge on The X Factor and served as their first manager, has also shared a statement. “Liam, I am truly devastated,” he writes. “Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear shed is a memory of you.”
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