Louis Tomlinson mourned the loss of his former One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, after the singer plummeted to his death from a hotel balcony on Oct. 16.
“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,” Tomlinson wrote via Instagram Thursday.
Louis Tomlinson, seen here in 2015, paid tribute to Liam Payne after he died at the age of 31 on Oct. 16.FilmMagic
Tomlinson, 32, went on to praise the late musician, whom he met at age 18, for being an “incredible song writer” and being a “vital part of One Direction.”
He promised to remain in Payne’s 7-year-old son Bear’s life.Instagram/babypayneupdates
The “Back to You” crooner then addressed Payne directly, saying:
“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 went on to promise to be a great uncle to Payne’s 7-year-old son, Bear, and tell the little one “stories of how amazing his dad was.”
He concluded, “I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”
Tomlinson, notably, had a complicated relationship with Payne.
The singers united in 2010 when they formed their pop group with Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik after competing on the UK’s “X Factor.”
The boy band skyrocketed to fame — during which time Payne started abusing drugs and alcohol.
Relationships soured between the bandmates and One Direction officially broke up in 2016.
In 2022, Payne was called out for airing the former band’s dirty laundry on a podcast. He had notably called Tomlinson “rowdy.”
However, he vowed a year later to make amends with Tomlinson and the other ex-bandmembers after dragging them through the mud.
“I’m so sorry I was so out of my mind and I didn’t do better for you,” Payne wrote in a lengthy apology to Tomlinson via Instagram at the time.
“I feel ashamed in those moments to not be as good of a friend as you have been to me,” he continued.
He added, “At least I have time now and I’m me again so will try and make amends.”
Payne issued the mea culpa after attending the UK screening of Tomlinson’s “All of Those Voices” documentary, which explores his own struggles with fame.
Payne continued to work on himself, revealing in 2023 that he had gone to rehab and was more than 100 days sober.
Just days before his death, he also attended Horan’s concert in Argentina in an attempt to rekindle their friendship.
Payne died on Oct. 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his room at CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.
The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office told Page Six of its preliminary autopsy report revealed that the late UK-born artist suffered multiple traumas that led to internal and external bleeding and he was unable to be revived by first responders on the scene.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” local emergency medical doctor, Alberto Crescenti said, per the US Sun.
“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death,” the medical professional added.
Page Six also confirmed that alcohol and controlled substances were discovered in the pop star’s room after he died.
“Due to the position in which the body was left and the injuries from the fall, it is presumed that Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen while in a state of semi or total unconsciousness,” according to the statement.
Law enforcement officials said that Payne sustained “extremely serious injuries” and that he was declared dead at the scene.
Prior to his fatal fall, the hotel manager called the police to report that Payne was acting erratically.
“We have a guest who is [allegedly] high and drunk; and when he is conscious, he is destroying his room and we need you to send someone, please. We need you to send someone urgently because I don’t know if his life is in danger,” the employee named Estaban begged in the audio translated from Spanish.
“He is in a room that has a balcony and we are scared he might be endangering his life,” he added.
Eyewitnesses claimed that Payne was causing a scene in the lobby and allegedly smashed his laptop before being carried back to his room.
Payne’s body was discovered in the hotel courtyard by staffers shortly after his troubling outburst.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
