'Completely devastated': former One Direction bandmates react to death of Liam Payne

Liam Payne's former bandmates are "completely devastated" by the news of his death, the four said in a joint statement on One Direction's Instagram on Thursday. 

"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 statement signed by Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan reads. 

"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."

The words of mourning come a day after the death of 31-year-old Payne, who was found dead in a courtyard below a third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death. 

The day had, apparently, started innocently enough, with Payne posting on Snapchat about his trip in Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.

"It's a lovely day here in Argentina," he said in the video.

Less than 24 hours later, friends and fans were grieving.

One Direction fan Micaela Ibertis told Reuters at a vigil outside the hotel: "I feel like it's like a dream, like I'm going to sleep now and tomorrow it's all going to be a lie ... I think it's going to take me a while to accept all this, it's very complicated."

On Thursday morning, there were flowers and candles set up outside the hotel, with fans gathering at the city's obelisk monument to pay their respects and share their shock. 

"We are heartbroken," Payne's family said in a statement through a spokesperson. "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time."

'Most vital part' of band

One Direction found global success after the band was formed on the British version of Simon Cowell's The X Factor talent show in 2010, bringing together Payne, Styles, Malik, Horan and Tomlinson. Payne first appeared on the talent show in 2008 at the age of 14, but after he failed to progress to the live shows, he auditioned again two years later and was put into the group, which would go on to set records and score hordes of fans. 

In addition to the group statement, Malik, Tomlinson and Styles put up personal statements on Thursday evening memorializing their lost friend and former bandmate. Horan followed suit on Friday morning. 

Malik posted a photo on Instagram from the early days of the band, in which he and Liam are curled up together, sleeping peacefully. 

"Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me," he wrote. "I can't help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives."

He painted a picture of his late friend as a leader for the band, saying that he'd always known he could rely on Payne during performances. 

"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 and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly."

Tomlinson wrote on Instagram that Payne was "a positive, funny and kind soul," and "the kind brother I'd longed all my life for."

Payne was "the most vital part of One Direction," he said. "His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing."

The band enjoyed more than 29 hits on Billboard's Hot 100 with six in the top 10, including What Makes You Beautiful, Story of My Life and Live While We're Young.

Payne had co-writing credits on many of the band's songs, including singles Story of My Life and Night Changes, and often worked with Tomlinson, who has the most co-writing credits of all the band members.

"Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody," Tomlinson wrote, adding that they had spoken since the band of getting back in the studio together to create again.

"I wish I got a chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you."

Styles said in an Instagram post that "Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve," and that his "greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it."

"I will miss him always, my lovely friend," Styles wrote, adding that his "heart breaks" for Payne's family.

On Friday morning, Horan shared an older photo of him carrying Payne on his back, writing that Payne's death "just doesn't feel real."

"I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently," he wrote. "I sadly didn't know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It's heartbreaking."

Payne had attended a concert of Horan's in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2, just two weeks before his death. The late singer had shared a selfie of the two of them on Snapchat after the concert, captioning it "Reunited" with a red heart. 

Public, media urged to give Payne 'dignity'

Cheryl, Payne's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his son, spoke up on Friday, slamming "media exploitation" of Payne's death. 

"As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I'd like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being," the British TV personality, who went by Cheryl Cole when she performed with the girl group Girls Aloud, wrote in an Instagram post. 

"Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven-year-old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again."

She shared a photo of Payne with their son Bear as an infant, and implored onlookers to consider if they'd want their family to read their words before commenting on Payne's death. 

Tributes pour in 

Cowell, the music mogul who helped create One Direction, said he was "heartbroken" in an Instagram post on Friday. 

"I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you," he wrote. One Direction were signed to Cowell's record label, Syco, from 2010 to 2015, when their contract ended.

Singer Rita Ora said she was "devastated" in a post on X on Thursday. 

"I loved working with him so much — he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage," she wrote. Video taken by fans during a performance in Japan on Wednesday night shows Ora struggling to sing the lyrics of For You, a 2018 duet she did with Payne, commenting mid-song that she "can't even sing this right now."

Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, who collaborated with Payne on one of his early X Factor appearances, said on Instagram that he was "shocked and saddened" to hear of Payne's death.

X Factor alums, including Olly Murs and two performers from the same cycle of the show as One Direction, Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson, also posted tributes in the wake of Payne's death.

One Direction's whirlwind success and fandom echoed boy bands of the past, including Britain's Take That and American group Backstreet Boys.

"Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat," the Backstreet Boys said in a statement on social media. "Our hearts go out to Liam's family, friends, and Directioners around the world."

American singer Charlie Puth was also among those expressing their grief.

"I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me," he said on Instagram. "He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone."

Remembered for band, solo career

One Direction went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 2016 before the band members pursued solo careers.

After One Direction disbanded, Payne released his first studio album LP1 in 2019, and his last single was Teardrop, released in March.

"RIP Liam … I can't believe this is real …" DJ Zedd said in a post on X on Thursday. He and Payne had worked together on the song Get Low, which came out in July 2017. 

Some tributes on Thursday remembered Payne the person, not just the performer, including one from his former schoolmates.

"During his time at St Peter's Collegiate Academy, Liam was not only well-liked by his peers and teachers but also recognized for his talents," a statement on the school's Facebook account read. "He made a positive impact on our school community, and his contributions will be remembered."

In his hometown of Wolverhampton, England, residents were absorbing the shock of his death on Thursday morning. 

"When my mum told me, I was like, 'no he's not, no he's not, no, I don't believe that.' It's really sad, though," bartender Chanel Jones said.