One Direction breaks silence on Liam Payne death: ‘We love you’

Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates are speaking out after his death.
Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson released a joint statement Thursday on the official One Direction Instagram page to address Payne’s tragic death following a fall from a balcony Wednesday.
“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. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from his third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The statement concluded: “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.”
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
More:TMZ, that graphic Liam Payne photo and the damage it caused
Buenos Aires police said Wednesday Payne’s fall resulted in “extremely serious injuries,” and he was confirmed to be dead at the scene, according to The Associated Press.
On Thursday, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 16 in Argentina announced in a press release that the One Direction singer died from “polytrauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage.” Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, they said in the release translated from Spanish to English, but prosecutors believe Payne was alone when the fall occurred.
“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there are so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” began Malik’s heartbreaking tribute to Payne on Thursday.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life,” the singer wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the two sleeping on one another in their younger years. “When I was missing home as a 17 year old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know that you were my friend and that I loved.”
His statement continued, “Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no (expletive) about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”
“When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense,” Malik wrote. “I knew nothing in comparison, l was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.”
“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,” Malik, 31, concluded.
On his Instagram account, Tomlinson, 32, also shared a touching tribute to his “brother” Payne on Thursday.
“I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul,” he wrote. “I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for.”
Tomlinson remembered Payne as an “incredible song writer with a great sense of melody” and recalled the two speaking often about “getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.” He called Payne the “most vital part of One Direction” and thanked him for “shaping us.”
He continued: “A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.”
The singer-songwriter also promised to look after Payne’s 7-year-old son: “I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.
“I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you,” he concluded.
One Direction took an indefinite hiatus in 2016 following the release of their fifth album, “Made in the A.M.” All members, including Malik, who left the group in March 2015, went on to pursue solo careers.
“It is definitely really sad for us. But obviously, we’re going back into it. So it’s not goodbye; it’s just, ‘See you later,'” Payne told USA TODAY in 2015 about their hiatus. “It’s like what Tigger used to say: ‘Ta-ta for now.'”
On Thursday evening, Styles shared a rare social media post in remembrance of his “lovely friend.”
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles, 30, wrote in a slide that followed a photo of Payne performing on tour. “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.” 
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious,” the singer continued. “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.” 
Styles concluded with a nod to the parents, sisters and son Payne left behind: “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.”
‘My lovely friend’:Harry Styles mourns One Direction bandmate Liam Payne
Horan shared a tribute to Payne on Friday, remembering his “energy for life.”
“I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real,” Horan wrote in an Instagram post paired with a photo of the two of them smiling, with Payne on Horan’s back.
“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious,” Horan wrote. “He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.”
Horan recalled “all the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.”
“We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will forever cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.”
Horan said he felt “so fortunate” to see Payne recently, when the two reconnected earlier this month at Horan’s Oct. 2 concert in Argentina. “I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking,” Horan wrote.
He shared his condolences with Payne’s family and “of course his son Bear,” ending the message writing, “Love you brother.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Jay Stahl, USA TODAY