Harry Styles ‘truly devastated’ by death of bandmate Liam Payne as One Direction members issue statements

Harry Styles has followed his One Direction bandmates in offering a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne following his tragic death in Buenos Aires.

It is understood Payne fell from the third floor of CasaSur Palermo Hotel in the Argentinian capital shortly after 5pm on Wednesday, local time. His body was found in an internal courtyard. He was 31 years old.

He rose to fame alongside Styles and other bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson as part of One Direction — which emerged from the reality TV singing contest The X Factor to become one of the best-selling boy bands in history.

After the band shared a joint statement on Payne’s death, Styles shared his own photo of Payne on tour during their One Direction days with a black heart emoji.

He wrote: “I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing.”

“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. He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving.”

Styles said his “heart breaks” for Payne’s family, including his seven-year-old son Bear, and “all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did”.

“The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”

Styles’ mother Anne also took to social media quickly after news of Payne’s death broke sharing a simple but heartbreaking three-word post.

“Just a boy...” she wrote to Instagram with a broken heart emoji against a black backdrop.

Payne’s other bandmates Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik also shared their own tributes for their late bandmate after the group released a joint statement honouring the “loss of our brother”.

Louis Tomlinson says Payne was “the most vital part of One Direction”

Tomlinson, 32, wrote he was “beyond devastated” to learn of Payne’s death, calling him “the most vital part of One Direction”.

“Liam was somebody I looked up to every day, such a positive, funny and kind soul,” he began.

“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.”

Tomlinson praised his bandmate’s songwriting skills and said the pair “often spoke of getting back into the studio... to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up on 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,” he continued.

He also addressed Payne directly, writing: “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 said he would be an “uncle” for Payne’s seven-year-old son Bear and “tell him stories of how amazing his dad was”.

“I wish I got the chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you,” he continued.

“Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”

Zayn Malik touches on fraught relationship: “Love You Bro”

Former One Direction member Zayn Malik also offered a tribute to his “Bro”, sharing a photo of them pair in the early days of their career.

“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was (sic.) so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” he wrote.

“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

“When I was missing home as a 17 yr (sic.) 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 announced his departure from One Direction in 2015, months after the band started their fourth world tour — Payne was the bandmate who picked up singing his parts in his stead.

Payne recently came under fire for comments he made about Malik on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, when he called his ex-bandmate a “d**k” and seemingly poked fun at some personal controversies of Malik’s circulating in the media at the time.

He later clarified his comments and said he would always defend his “brother”.

Malik’s tribute addressed their at-times tense relationship, writing that he always “respected” Payne even when they “butted heads”.

“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f***s about telling people when they were wrong,” he wrote.

“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”

He continued: “When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, l 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.”

“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what l’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,” he went on.

“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is (sic.) no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.

“I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”

The members of One Direction were teenagers when they were catapulted to international superstardom following their formation and third-place finish on The X Factor in 2010.

They went on to become the biggest boyband in history — who stirred pandemonium akin to, if not bigger than, Beatlemania — before going on indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne embarked on a solo career, releasing singles Strip That Down (his most successful track) and Stack It Up. His last single Teardrops was released in March 2024.

He is the father of a seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with British singer Cheryl Cole.