Malik’s Nov. 23 tribute came three days after he attended Payne’s funeral alongside his former One Direction bandmates
Zayn Malik; Liam Payne. Photo:
Getty(2)
Zayn Malik returned to the stage — and honored one of the first people he ever shared a stage with.
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At the first show of the “Dusk Till Dawn” singer’s Stairway to the Sky Tour on Saturday, Nov. 23, Malik paid tribute to One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who died on Oct. 16 at age 31.
The “PILLOWTALK” singer, 31, ended his show at O2 Academy in Leeds, England — Malik’s first since Payne’s death — with a tribute to the late singer. After playing his second-to-last song, a message about Payne appeared as his track “Stardust” played, fan-captured footage shows.
“Liam Payne 1993-2024,” the screen read over a blue background with a red heart. “Love you bro.”
The Room Under the Stairs artist’s tribute came three days after Malik attended Payne’s funeral alongside his former One Direction bandmates — Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan — marking the first time he had been seen publicly with them since he left the group in 2015.
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Malik’s appearance at the funeral also came shortly after he rescheduled dates for his tour. On Oct. 19, three days after Payne’s death, the singer announced on Instagram that, “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week,” he would be postponing the United States leg of his upcoming tour.
“Love you all and thank you for your understanding,” he wrote at the time.
Liam Payne and Zayn Malik in 2011.Shirlaine Forrest/WireImag
The first show was originally set for Oct. 23, and it has since been rescheduled for early next year. Following his Leeds show, Malik has several more concerts lined up in the United Kingdom, including Manchester, London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle Upon Tyne.
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Payne died on Oct. 16 when he fell from a third floor balcony at CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He died from multiple injuries and “internal and external” hemorrhages, according to a preliminary autopsy report.
Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan of One Direction.Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty
A day later, on Oct. 17, Malik and his bandmates shared a rare group statement — their first since Malik’s departure nearly a decade ago — reacting to their bandmate’s sudden death.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the statement began. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
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“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” the band continued. “For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
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Malik also shared a tribute of his own, penning a message to Payne on Instagram.
Alongside a throwback photo of the duo during their boyband days, the singer wrote, in part, that he “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.”
“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,” he continued. “I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.”
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