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News of singer Liam Payne’s death broke suddenly on Wednesday, October 16. The former One Direction singer fell from his third-story hotel-room balcony in Argentina, and details of the event are still emerging.
Payne’s family said they are “heartbroken” over his death, commemorating “his kind, funny, and brave soul” in a statement shared the following day. Payne is survived by his mother, father, and two sisters, as well as his son, Bear, with ex Cheryl Cole.
Zedd, who made “Get Low” with Payne in 2017, wrote that the news is “absolutely heartbreaking.” His fellow X Factor contestants Jedward extended their sympathy to his former partner, Cheryl, and the couple’s son, Bear. And E.L. James, whose Fifty Shades Freed film adaptation featured a song from Payne and Rita Ora, said she could “barely believe it.” Below, tributes to Liam Payne from across the industry.
“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul,” Payne’s family told the Sun in a statement. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this awful time.”
From Halsey’s blog: “i loved one direction with an all-consuming force when i was younger. it hurts deeply to mourn someone you were a massive fan of as teenager, and became a peer of as an adult.
i know people change and grief is unsure or complicated when it’s attached to a fond memory or the feeling a person gave you and not tangibly the person themself. i can see many of you on here are struggling with that right now and i understand.
a few years ago i purchased a home that Liam previously owned. there were rumors the house was haunted. He assured me it was not, and i believed him. because i know the ghosts that haunt us aren’t tethered to buildings. They live in parts of us that are harder to reach and they go wherever we do.
as a parent, a fellow artist, and a fan, i simply cannot fathom this untimely loss. my heart goes out to his family, friends, and the fans.”
