The surviving members of One Direction have issued a joint statement following the death of Liam Payne, who died Wednesday at the age of 31.
“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,” Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan said in the statement to Rolling Stone.
“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.”
Tomlinson also shared his own statement on social media, writing, “I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul. I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for.”
He continued, “Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band. And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.”
Tomlinson then penned a message directly to Payne, “I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.”
He added that if Payne’s Bear son ever needed him, “I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.”
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“I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you,” the message concluded.
Payne died Wednesday from injuries he sustained after falling off a third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
