The X Factor said after Liam Payne’s death that he would "leave a lasting legacy in the music industry” through his One Direction days.
The singer rose to stardom at the age of 16, joining Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan in the ITV singing competition Boys Band in 2010, two years after his first audition. He returned to the program.
Music stars and celebrities have paid tribute to a 31-year-old man who fell to his death from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to local police.
We are saddened by the sad passing of Liam Payne. He is extremely talented and as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy in the music industry and his fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him. pic.twitter.com/wOXUTKPUiR
— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) October 17, 2024
“We are heartbroken to hear of the sad passing of Liam Payne,” the X Factor’s official X account (formerly Twitter) wrote alongside a photo of Liam Payne.
“He is extremely talented and as a member of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy in the music industry and for his fans around the world.
“Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.”
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood recalled working with Payne and One Direction on The X Factor in 2014 for a performance of the boy band’s song ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’.
“Shocked and saddened to hear of Liam Payne’s passing. It was an honor to work with him on his X Factor performance,” Wood wrote in a tribute on Instagram.
“God bless Liam, thinking of all his loved ones. He will be sorely missed.”
Former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore described the singer as “always so lovely and so generous with his time” when they met over the years.
She recalled interviewing him at the BRIT Awards one year, when she realized he was “very much loved by someone behind the scenes”.
“Sometimes we forget that people in the public eye are real people with real emotions,” she added.
“He was a pop star, but more importantly, he was someone’s son and father, and he was loved by so many heartbroken people. No, but sometimes it’s believable. It’s devastating.”
BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James opened his breakfast show by telling listeners he woke up this morning to find the news “unbearably sad” and that they would all take it together.
He also told fans: The shock will make you unstable, so please be careful today.
“Even if we didn’t know Liam Payne personally, we had a quasi-social relationship and we knew some of these people and they were part of our lives and we It’s weird to deal with when you’re gone.”
Paying personal tribute to Payne, James only interviewed Payne a few times before performing One Direction’s hit single “What Makes You Beautiful.” He said that he thought it was “very fun,” “interesting,” and “kind.”
Styles’ mother, Anne Twist, posted a heartbroken emoji on Instagram with the caption, “Just a boy.”
Singer Olly Murs, who appeared on The X Factor a year before One Direction, said on Instagram that he was “speechless” and described Payne’s death as “shocking”.
“We always had a good laugh when we saw each other. Occasionally our catch-ups were short and sweet, but then it was mostly about how great his hair always was, or about Becks, the old XF. (The X factor was the many days we spent together on tour,” Mars wrote next to a photo of the two of them.)
“Liam shared the same passions, the same dreams as me, so to see his life come to an end at such a young age is devastating. My heart is truly breaking for Bear.”
JLS star Marvin Humes has recalled that he “hit it off instantly” with Payne and thought of him like a “little brother” after meeting him while auditioning for The X Factor in 2008. did.
Singer and presenter Liam said he was “completely heartbroken” by the news, adding: “Liam, you wanted to be a global superstar and you achieved it in this way. I can’t believe it’s over, I’m shocked,” he added. . My thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends. ”
Singer Cher Lloyd recalled competing on The X Factor in the same year as Payne and One Direction, visiting his family, touring with him and watching Payne achieve his dreams. .
“I will cherish the memories we made and the laughs we had together. My thoughts are with your family, friends, and everyone who loves you,” she wrote on Instagram, along with a photo from her days at the singing competition.
“My heart is breaking for your son Bear. Rest in peace Liam.”
Singer Beverley Knight emulates her Wolverhampton compatriot’s success, saying: “I am immensely proud that a young man from my town has become a global star and a member of the best-selling boy band of all time. ” he said.
She added that her heart was “broken” for his parents and son Bear, born in 2017, whom he shared with ex-partner, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.
Former The Extra Factor presenter Connie Haq said that when Justin Bieber was on the show, she told Payne that she would “someday be as big as him” and that Payne was “masochistic”. “But we have certainly reached that level.”
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I actually found out last night (about his death), but the phrase ‘just a boy’ is so true because everything he knew as an adult and everything he knew before he became an adult. Because I also know life to a certain extent”, has been thrust into the limelight and thrust into a position of global fame, and is not only known in his own country, but basically everywhere. ”
Wanted star Max George, who said he met Payne while appearing with One Direction and The X Factor, described his death as “absolutely shocking news”.
“Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know him personally and have spent some precious time with him,” he said on Instagram.
“When Tom[Parker]got sick, Liam was such a great support and even performed with us in ‘Stand Up to Cancer’ at the Royal Albert Hall.
“He gave me so much personal support after Tom passed away. I’ll never forget that.”
Payne attended the funeral of Parker, who died in March 2022 at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
US singer Charlie Puth, co-writer of Payne’s 2017 song “Bedroom Floor”, said he was “shocked” after Payne’s death.
“Liam has always been so kind to me,” he wrote on Instagram, along with a collection of photos of the two of them working together.
I’m very upset after hearing the news of @Liam Payne Passed away 😢 Sending love and condolences to his family and loved ones. 🙏 Rest in peace my friend 🥺
— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) October 16, 2024
“He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can’t believe he’s gone…I’m so upset right now, may he rest in peace. To.”
Rylan Clarke said Payne’s death in X was “very tragic”, while former X Factor contestant Jedward sent his love to Cheryl, son Bear and “the whole One Direction family”.
Socialite Paris Hilton also paid tribute to X, calling the singer’s death “absolutely shocking”, while BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball said: “Shocking news, dear Liam Payne. ” he said.
Rest in peace Liam…I can’t believe this is real…so heartbroken…💔
— Zedd (@Zedd) October 16, 2024
Zedd, a DJ and music producer who featured with Payne on his 2017 song “Get Low,” called Payne’s death “truly heartbreaking.”
American singer and rapper Ty Dolla $ign captioned videos and photos on her Instagram Story that she would “miss” Payne and said, “We just talked two days ago, dude.” .
Fellow boy band Backstreet Boys also expressed their condolences, saying their hearts go out to “directors around the world.”
Words cannot express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, but it seems like people all over the world are in the same situation.
Our hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends and directors around the world.
Rest in peace, brother.
— Backstreet Boys (@backstreetboys) October 17, 2024
SoccerAid announced that Payne would captain the England team in a charity football match in 2022 and return to play for the team in 2023 to “support children around the world”. I was grateful for everything I had done.
A number of industry bodies paid tribute, including streaming giant Spotify, MTV and the BRIT Awards, all of which said in separate statements that they were “deeply saddened” by Payne’s death.