Charlie Puth, Camila Cabello and More Stars React to Liam Payne's 'Heartbreaking' Death: 'Can't Believe This Is Real'
Payne was 31 when he died in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Oct. 16, after he fell multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel
Tributes to Liam Payne are pouring in following the news of the performer's death at 31.
The former One Direction member died after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Oct. 16. He is survived by his son Bear Grey, 7.
The day after his death, the official One Direction Instagram account released a joint statement on Instagram, which shared that Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan are processing "the loss of [their] brother." Additionally, Styles, 30, Malik, 32, and Tomlinson, 31, released individual statements shortly after.
Along with his former bandmates, several other music industry figures mourned Payne's tragic death, including Rita Ora, Halsey and Charlie Puth.
Puth expressed his condolences on Instagram. "I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone...," he wrote in his first Instagram Story. Puth, 32, also shared a video of the two laughing with each other, and added the text "I'm so upset right now, may he rest in peace."
In another Instagram Story, he included a screenshot of Payne discussing how Puth wrote a song with him. Below the photo, Puth wrote, "I am so sorry." Puth also added an Instagram post of the pair with no caption.
Noah Cyrus posted a video of Payne singing to her Instagram Stories and wrote a touching tribute. "i'm not gonna ever be able to fully voice how i am feeling but ..i feel so fortunate to have been in the same generation as Liam Payne and the phenomenon of 1D.. Liam you are so loved and will always be loved by so many. this is the most devastating, awful, heart breaking news. i'm sending so much love to his family, girlfriend, and the close people around him. as someone who eat sleep breathe one direction and being apart of that fandom was such as huge part of my life and so many others."
The 24-year-old singer continued, "we are so lucky to have been apart of that fandom. we are so lucky to have known Liam Payne the singer and performer. but my heart goes out to the Liam Payne who was suffering behind closed doors. my heart goes out to his fans as well because I'm absolutely crushed and i imagine so many are SO broken by the loss of someone so special. thank you for the laughs, smiles, and songs. you will live forever through those. you will never be forgotten. rest in peace Liam. i really wish you so much peace beyond this world. you deserve it.
Payne's “Get Low” collaborator Zedd mourned the singer on X (formerly known as Twitter). “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real… absolutely heartbreaking," he wrote.
Ty Dolla $ign added a photo of Payne to his Instagram Stories, and wrote: "Just talked to you 2 days ago my guy. Ima miss u fr fr sucio💔💔."
Juicy J wrote on X: “R.I.P. Liam Payne wow I can't believe it prayers up for the family 🙏🏿.”
"RIP to Liam Payne,,, much too young 🙏🏾," Flavor Flav said on X.
Singer Camila Cabello posted on her Instagram Stories, "Thank you Liam for all the joy you brought my friends and i. it really made an impression on me as a young girl to meet a member of a group i loved and have him be so kind. it's a tragedy to have him gone way too soon."
DJ Steve Aoki posted a message to X with several photos alongside Payne. "I’ll miss u dear friend. It’s so difficult to write this out. Doesn’t make sense, I can’t believe you’re gone brother," wrote Aoki, 46. "We had so many amazing memories together on and off the stage. A true legend and a kinder soul with a heart of gold. Miss u my brother."
Boy bands *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys both expressed their condolences.
"Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat. Our hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends, and Directioners around the world. Rest in peace brother," read the Backstreet Boys X post.
Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean also made a separate Instagram post. "Words cannot begin to express the pain I have for this man and the great loss we have endured! We became very close almost immediately and shared so many stories , laughs, and life experiences," McLean, 46, wrote.
"Gone too soon my friend. You were such a light an incredible person to be in the presence of daily while we worked together! I cannot believe you are gone. Keep shining and keep singing for us all to hear. My deepest condolences to your family , loved ones, and your bandmates. Love you bro! 😢."
NSYNC posted to the official Instagram account's Stories: "WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF LIAM PAYNE. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FANS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. SENDING OUR LOVE, JC, JOEY, LANCE, CHRIS & JUSTIN."
NSYNC member JC Chasez also added an Instagram Story. "I will miss you, my friend💧. My heart is with your family," Chasez, 48, wrote on top of a photo of Payne smiling. Chasez and Payne co-wrote on Payne's last single, "Teardrops."
Along with sharing One Direction's statement on his Instagram Stories with a red heart emoji, Ed Sheeran, who co-wrote Payne's debut solo single "Strip That Down," wrote on Instagram, "At a loss for words. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, every memory I have with him is a great one, just such a heartbreaking situation. Be kind. X."
"Such a kind generous person & will be missed in so many ways 💔," David Beckham added on his Instagram Stories alongside a photo of the pair.
"So upsetting to hear the news of @LiamPayne passing😢 . Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. 🙏. RIP my friend🥺," Paris Hilton wrote on X.
Kelly Osbourne posted a photo of Payne to her Instagram Stories and wrote, "Going through our last text conversations and just so ❤️."
James Corden honored the late musician with an Instagram post of Payne and a heartfelt caption. "Talking about Liam in the past tense is utterly heartbreaking. He was such a loving and kind soul," Corden, 46, wrote. "I will treasure the moments I got to spend with him. My thoughts are with his family today x."
E.L. James, the author of the Fifty Shades of Grey book series, mourned the late singer on X. (Payne collaborated with Rita Ora on the franchise's third installment, Fifty Shades of Freed soundtrack in 2018.) "I am heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Liam Payne. I can barely believe it. Sincere condolences to his family. 💔," wrote James.
English broadcaster Piers Morgan wrote, "Good grief.. what a shocking tragedy" on X.
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Several former X-Factor contestants have paid tribute. Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix, a fellow X Factor formed group, added an Instagram Stories post with a photo of the pair.
"The news of Liam's passing is truly heartbreaking. Sending so much love to his family, friends, fans, loved ones, and all who knew him. We fell out of touch as the years went by, but back in 2008 he was the first friend I made in this industry. Both of us so young, so ambitious, both hoping we'd 'make it'. I hope you are at peace now ❤️," she wrote.
Fellow Little Mixer Leigh-Anne Pinnock also shared on her Instagram Stories alongside a photo of Payne laughing, "This is heartbreaking 💔 every time we crossed paths he was so lovely and humble. I'll never forget seeing One Direction on tour for the first time and being instantly drawn to Liam's stage presence you could just tell he was made for that stage ❤️Gone way too soon 🥺 Sending all my love and deepest condolences to his family and everyone close to him. 🙏."
"RIP Liam Payne 💔 condolences to friends and family," season 6 X-Factor contestants Irish music duo John and Edward Grimes wrote on X.
Rylan Clark, season 9 contestant, wrote, "Extremely sad news. V tragic and so young. RIP Liam x." Season 9 winner James Arthur posted a photo with Payne to his Instagram Stories.
Singer Mabel also paid tribute to the late singer on her Instagram Stories. "LIAM & FOR SO MANY YEARS I ALWAYS KNEW I COULD CALL YOU FOR SUPPORT AND BIG BROTHERLY ADVICE BUT NOW YOU'RE GONE...," she wrote. "MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH LIAMS FAMILY AND FRIENDS DURING THIS TIME YOU'LL BE SO MISSED."
"Rest easy Liam," Jessie J's tribute on her Instagram Stories post began. "My 💔 for his son, family and friends and all those who worked with him and everyone that loved his music. So incredibly sad."
"My condolences to everyone who, like me, grew up listening to 1D and who cultivated so many good moments with their music. It's so sad that all of this :( doesn't seem real," Brazilian actress-singer Maisa Silva wrote on X.
