Harry Styles 'devastated' by Liam Payne's death, says he 'will miss him always' in touching tribute

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: The death of former ‘One Direction’ star Liam Payne at just 31 has prompted a global outpouring of tributes. As the news settles in, his former bandmates are beginning to speak out about their heartbreaking loss. Harry Styles, in particular, took a moment to honor Payne's memory, celebrating the years they shared. 

He vowed to cherish those memories for life and expressed his devastation over the sudden tragedy of Payne's death in Argentina on October 16. This heartfelt tribute follows a collective remembrance from the ‘One Direction’ members after the shocking news of Payne's death was revealed.

Harry Styles says he is 'truly devastated' after Liam Payne's death

The 'Steal My Girl' singer shared a carousel post on Instagram on October 17. The first image featured Liam Payne sitting at a concert, captivating the audience. 

The next image displayed bold black text on a white background, in which he began his tribute by expressing the devastation he felt following Payne's death, "I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it." 

Styles added, "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. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend."

The 'Adore You' singer then concluded his tribute with a heartfelt message for Payne's family, "My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him as I did."

Harry Styles' tribute was followed by a heartbreaking post from his mother, Anne Twist. Her message featured a black background and included a broken heart emoji, accompanied by the simple phrase, "Just a boy." 

One Direction bandmates pay tribute to Liam Payne

Before Harry Styles shared his solo tribute, he joined his fellow bandmates Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson in a collective statement. According to the joint tribute shared by People, they expressed, "We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. 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." 

They concluded with a heartfelt message: "The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. 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." 

One Direction was formed during the UK reality competition series 'The X Factor' in 2010, where the judges paired individual contestants. They went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands in history, releasing five studio albums before their hiatus in 2015.

The bandmates soon embarked on solo careers, with Payne releasing his biggest hit, 'Strip That Down', in 2017. Meanwhile, Styles has enjoyed significant success in his solo career, winning three Grammy Awards.