Zayn Malik stunned fans at a Newcastle gig when it was announced at the show that had been cancelled, minutes before showtime.
- Read More: Liam Payne 1993-2024: One Direction star who helped spark a pop phenomenon
Metro reported last night (December 3) that fans had been waiting in the Newcastle City Hall venue – which was ready for his ‘Stairway To The Sky’ tour – when the announcement was made.
“The show will no longer go ahead tonight,” the announcement stated, per Metro. “We apologise for the late notice, it was his hope that he would be able to continue with the show. But this is no longer possible.”
“Please contact your point of purchase for reschedule or refunds. If you have parents or guardians collecting you, please stay in the auditorium and wait to be collected.”
Malik later posted on Instagram Stories: “I’m so sorry to do this but my voice just isn’t there at all tonight and without it there’s no show. I’m truly sorry to let you down, especially at such short notice…. I held onto hope until the very last moment.”
“I’m hopeful with some rest tonight I’ll be back on stage tomorrow. My deepest apologies Newcastle love you all xx.”
The singer previously postponed the US leg of his tour following Payne’s death. He confirmed later that the shows would be rescheduled for January 2025.
The tour did reach Wolverhampton, where Malik paid tribute to his fellow ex-One Directioner, the late Liam Payne, who died in October, aged 31. “I’ve been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne,” he told the crowd.
He had previously kicked off his UK tour in Leeds on November 23, and at the end of the show projected a tribute to Payne on the screen behind him showing the year of his birth and death alongside the message: ‘Love you bro’.
Payne passed away on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with an autopsy confirming that the singer had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries.
Videos of the Wolverhampton gig show Malik saying: “Rest in peace. I hope you’re seeing this in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton. This is for you Liam,” before dedicating a performance of ‘iT’s YoU’ to his late bandmate.
Following the tragedy, Malik and Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson shared a statement following his sudden death.
“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,” began their statement.
It continued: “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.”
