Rita Ora breaks down in tears as she pays tribute to Liam Payne in EMAs speech

The EMAs took a bittersweet turn last night as Rita Ora paid tribute to the late Liam Payne, breaking down in tears as she remembered ‘one of the kindest’ people she knew.

Watch her heartbreaking speech below:

The singer died at the age of 31 last month after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Three people have since been arrested in connection with his death, with a statement from the prosecutor’s office saying: "From the beginning of the investigation and within a few days, exhaustive and meticulous actions and measures were taken to clarify the circumstances surrounding the artist's death.”

The statement added that, during the investigation into Payne's death, 'illicit conduct was discovered from which three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics'.

As top stars from across the global music industry gathered last night (10 November) at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, it seemed inevitable that the attention would fall on the late One Direction star.

Towards the end of the show, host Rita Ora - who previously worked with Payne - decided to 'take a moment’ to remember ‘someone very dear to us’, telling the audience: “We lost him recently. And he was a big part of the MTV world and my world.

Rita Ora broke down as she paid tribute to Payne (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Viacom International)

“And I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight, the pay was one of the kindest people that I knew ways that you talking about honouring him.”

Tearing up, she continued: “And I think sometimes just simply speaking is enough. He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could.

“He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on this world.

“So let's just take a moment to remember our friend Liam.”

In response, the crowd broke into applause, as a short compilation of photos of Payne played, along with a section of One Direction hit 'Night Changes'.

A compilation of photos also played (MTV/Channel 5)

Elsewhere in the evening, Taylor Swift made history as the first person to win best artist three times at the EMAs, scooping four accolades in total for 2024 including best video for 'Fortnight', Live Act and US Artist.

Sadly, as she's preparing to resume the final leg of her Eras tour in Canada this week (and having been busy supporting Travis Kelce at his Kansas City Chiefs game yesterday), she wasn't able to accept anything in person.

However, in a video speech, she told fans: "I am coming to you from the Eras tour, and I'm so sad that I can't be with you tonight. But thank you so much for these amazing awards.

"The fact that you have honoured the tour [and] everything that's happened with the album this year, the video, it's just unbelievable."