Ed Sheeran has shared an emotional tribute to friend Liam Payne, saying he is at a ‘loss for words’ over the star’s death.
Payne tragically died after falling from a balcony at the hotel CasaSur in Palemo, Buenos Aires, having been in Argentina to attend a show of former bandmate, Niall Horan, earlier this month.
In the wake of his shock death, tributes have come pouring in, with One Direction saying in a joint statement that they felt ‘completely devastated’ by the news.
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The statement, signed by Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson 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.
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“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.”
Ed Sheeran, who worked with Payne on his debut solo single ‘Strip That Down’, has since shared his own thoughts on Instagram, posting a photo of Payne alongside a caption calling for people to ‘be kind’.
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He wrote: “At a loss for words. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, every memory I have with him is a great one, just such a heartbreaking situation. Be kind.”
Former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne is also among the famous faces to speak out about Payne's death.
Sharing a black and white photo of Payne, she wrote: “Liam, my heart aches.
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“We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them? You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner?
“Rest in peace my friend.”
Osbourne was praised for her candid tribute to Payne, with one fan commenting: “This is probably the most honest thing anyone could say. A lot of respect. So sad.”
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Payne rose to fame when he was a teenager, having first appeared on the hit music contest when he was 14, performing Frank Sinatra's 'Fly Me To The Moon' before sailing through to the next round.
Upon reaching the judge's houses, however, he was advised to return to school and audition some years later.
Two years later, he re-auditioned - selecting Michael Buble's 'Cry Me A River' as his song - and was eventually joined with fellow soloists Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan to create One Direction.
While the group came third overall, they went on to become one of the most successful bands in the world, selling 70 million records before going on hiatus in 2016.
Topics: Liam Payne, Music, World News, UK News
Jess Hardiman