Zayn Malik offered a heartbreaking tribute to his late bandmate Liam Payne during an emotional gig in the late star’s birthplace.
The ex-One Direction star, who rocketed to stardom alongside Liam, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, walked away from the band back in 2015, citing mental health issues and a craving for a more normal life.
Recently hitting the road solo for the first time with his Stairway to the Sky Tour, which has seen him belting out tunes in cities like London and Manchester, Zayn was upfront with fans about the gnawing anxiety that comes with performing alone. Yet it was his Wolverhampton performance that tugged hard on heartstrings, thanks to a poignant homage to Liam following his tragic death last month.
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(Image: X/TikTok)
On October 16, Liam, aged 31, plummeted from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony, succumbing to an “internal and external haemorrhage” from multiple traumas. Though Zayn’s tour faced delays in the wake of the tragedy, his performances closed with a tender salute to Liam—a touching moment when he premiered his 2024 hit, Stardust.
The packed-out Wolverhampton venue saw emotions surge as “Liam Payne 1993 – 2024. Love you bro,” lit up across the screen, accompanied by a delicate pink heart.
Zayn Malik honoured his late “brother” Liam Payne during a heartfelt moment at The Halls in the University of Wolverhampton, emotionally saying: “I’ve been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace. I hope you’re seeing this, we’re in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you, Liam.”
Devastated fans flocked to social media to express their sorrow, with one fan posting: “Stop I’m crying.”
Another shared their disbelief: “It’s so weird hearing him say Liam Payne and Rest in Peace in the same sentence, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it,” accompanied by a teary emoji. A third admitted: “I cried as soon as he said it. So lovely to hear the devotion.”
(Image: X/TikTok)
Some commented on Zayn’s delivery: “The way he spoke… You know he is still talking out loud to him.” And yet another fan remarked: “Sounds like a touching tribute, gotta respect the brotherhood.”
Reflecting on the loss, Zayn revealed in a rare social media statement that he “never got to thank” Liam Payne for his support through tough times.
He expressed that Liam would “always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile”. Zayn further added: “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’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. I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is 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.”
Since the singer’s tragic death, three individuals have been charged.
A toxicology report revealed that Liam had anti-depressants and cocaine in his system at the time of his death – despite having been clean from drugs just days prior. It’s alleged that Class A drugs were smuggled into Liam’s hotel room, concealed in a Dove soap box.
Hotel staff have since claimed that only employees have access to the location where the soap supplies are stored. Witnesses and a police report filed subsequently suggest that Liam was trying to escape from his hotel room and threatened to use the balcony as a means to flee.
A bag was also discovered on his body in the hotel’s internal courtyard, suggesting he may have been planning to leave the room.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
