One Direction bandmates break silence on Liam Payne’s death

Former One Direction bandmates broke their silence on Liam Payne’s death.
In a joint statement shared on Thursday, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson said they are “devastated” by the death of their former One Direction bandmate, Payne.
“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,” the former band members wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.
“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.”
The statement was signed, “Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
Payne died Wednesday in Argentina. He was 31.
According to a police statement released Thursday, Payne “jumped from the balcony of his room,” per The Associated Press.
An autopsy performed after Payne’s death revealed that the singer died from “‘multiple trauma’ and ‘internal and external bleeding’ in the skull, chest and abdomen and limbs,” as reported by The New York Times.
In separate posts, each former member of One Direction paid personal tributes to Payne.
Tomlinson said he “lost a brother,” per an Instagram statement.
“Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul.”
He continued, “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.”
“I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye.”
In a tribute posted on Instagram, Malik said he wished he could give Payne “a hug one last time and say goodbye … properly.”
“When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved,” Malik wrote to Payne. ““Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”
He continued: “When it came to music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.”
Styles said he is “truly devastated by Liam’s passing” in an Instagram post. “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.”
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.” Styles described Payne as “warm, supportive and incredibly loving.”
“The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”
In a personal tribute, Horan said Payne’s death “doesn’t feel real,” the singer wrote on Instagram.
He continued, “Liam has an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.”
Horan noted that the friendship he shared with Payne “doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.”
“I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”