Harry Styles is opening up about the passing of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.
On Thursday, the “As It Was” singer posted a photo of Payne performing on stage, his back to the camera as he faces a sold-out crowd.
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles said. “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honor 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 continued. “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 went on to say his “heart breaks” for Payne’s family especially his son Bear “and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did.”
In 2010, Payne, Styles along with Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan found international fame with the British-Irish boy band One Direction. The members of 1D became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. They disbanded in 2016 with members going on to solo careers.
The 31-year-old Payne died on Wednesday after he fell from the balcony of a third-story room of the Casa Sur Hotel balcony located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Police told The Associated Press that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.”
According to Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14, Payne died from “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhage.”
The coroners noted Payne suffered 25 injuries and “described in the autopsy are compatible with those caused by a fall from a height.”
“They also pointed out that the head injuries were sufficient to cause death, while the internal and external hemorrhages in the skull, thorax, abdomen and limbs contributed to the mechanism of death.”
