Zayn Malik's sister Doniya warns against writing 'cruel comments online' after Liam Payne's tragic death

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: The death of One Direction alum Liam Payne has sent shockwaves through the music industry and among fans worldwide.

Following his untimely death at 31, after a fatal fall from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony, the conversation surrounding mental health and online cruelty has reignited.

Zayn Malik's sister, Doniya Malik, has taken to social media to express her concern, advocating for kindness and compassion, especially in the wake of the heartbreaking news, as per E! News.

Doniya Malik advocates for kindness and compassion in wake of Liam Payne's death

Doniya Malik's plea comes after Liam Payne’s history with mental health struggles and addiction surfaced through past interviews.

Using her platform to emphasize the singer's vulnerability, she shared a heartfelt tribute, reminding everyone of the importance of kindness.

Just a day after the world learned of Payne's tragic death, Doniya shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram Stories, alongside a video featuring clips of Payne candidly discussing his personal struggles.

The montage included moments from his interviews where he opened up about his mental health battles and struggles with addiction, particularly in his post-One Direction years.

"And this should be a reminder to always be kind. You never know what a person is truly going through," Doniya, 33, captioned the October 17 post.

"Always think before you write cruel comments online," she added, urging her followers to reflect on the consequences of their words.

One of the first clips in Doniya's tribute video was taken from Payne’s 2021 appearance on the popular podcast 'Diary of a CEO', where the singer had an in-depth conversation about his battles with alcohol addiction and mental health challenges.

In the clip, Payne reflected on how deeply these issues affected him, confessing how much he had struggled beneath the surface.

"I was worried how far my rock bottom was going to be," Payne revealed to host Steven Bartlett during the episode. "And you would never have seen it. I'm very good at hiding it. No one would have ever seen it."

Liam Payne’s battle with alcohol addiction became evident after One Direction went on hiatus

In his interview on 'Diary of a CEO', Liam Payne provided an unflinching look at his time in One Direction, describing the immense pressures that came with being in one of the world’s biggest boy bands.

According to Payne, being locked away in hotel rooms during tours played a significant role in the development of his drinking habits.

"The problem we had in the band—and I don't blame anybody for this, I don't want to seem like I'm whining or moaning, 'Oh my god, look at my life,' whatever—but it feels to me like when we were in the band, the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just lock us in our rooms," Payne candidly shared during the podcast. "And, of course, what's in the room? Minibar."

Payne’s battle with alcohol addiction became more evident after the band went on hiatus in 2016, with the singer later admitting that he had hit rock bottom.

His candidness about his struggles struck a chord with fans and the public, offering a rare insight into the emotional toll that fame had taken on him.

Doniya's tribute also included another poignant moment from Payne's 2019 interview with Ant Middleton on 'Ant Middleton And Liam Payne: Straight Talking'.

In that conversation, Payne described the toll that the constant attention and criticism had on his mental well-being.

"There's times where that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day," Payne shared. "Every so often, you're like, when will this end?"