Niall Horan reacts to Liam Payne’s ‘heartbreaking’ death: ‘It just doesn’t feel real’
Niall Horan spoke out for the first time since his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne’s tragic death.
“I’m absolutely devastated by the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real,” the “Slow Hands” singer, 31, expressed Friday morning in an Instagram post.
“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.”
Horan recalled “all the laughs” they had over the years while mourning the loss of his friend, saying, “We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever.”
“The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.”
In his emotional statement, which was accompanied by a throwback photo of Payne on Horan’s back, he expressed how “fortunate” he felt to have seen his former bandmate recently.
“I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking,” Horan concluded his post, expressing his love and condolences to Payne’s family.
Horan and Payne were both members of the popular boy band alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.
Horan was likely the last of the group to see Payne alive, as the “Strip That Down” singer had just flown to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to see the former “Voice” coach perform on Oct. 2.
Payne posted photos and videos to social media before seeing Horan sing at the Movistar Arena.
“I think we might just go and say hello,” he said in a Snapchat video before the concert. “It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken. We’ve got a lot to talk about. And I would like to square up a couple things with the boy.”
Payne clarified that there were “no bad vibes or anything like that,” but he still wanted to “talk” to Horan.
The “Teardrops” crooner and his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, were seen dancing, singing and chatting with fans while watching the show in a VIP suite.
Payne later shared videos of Horan performing to his Snapchat page and raved about how he was “so proud” of his longtime friend.
The late singer-songwriter also posted a sweet selfie of the two with the caption, “Reunited ❤️.”
Horan concluded his tour in Bogotá, Colombia, on Oct. 9, while Payne and Cassidy stayed back and continued vacationing in Buenos Aires. She returned home to Florida on Oct. 14, but her beau remained in the Argentine capital.
Payne died on Oct. 16 after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. He was 31.
The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office told Page Six the following day that Payne died from multiple traumas that led to internal and external bleeding.
Officials have not determined whether the fall was accidental or intentional nor have they commented on the star’s state of mind before he died. However, drug paraphernalia and alcohol were found in his hotel room, which had been destroyed.
Prior to his death, Payne reportedly had been “acting erratic” and smashed his laptop in the lobby before being carried back to his room.
The hotel’s manager subsequently called emergency services.
“We have a guest who is high and drunk, and when he is conscious, he is destroying his room, and we need you to send someone, please,” the manager told an operator, according to a transcript of the call.
Police officers were en route to the hotel before Payne’s death, but by the time they arrived, he had already fallen to his death in the courtyard.
“We arrived in time to try and revive him, but there was nothing we could do,” the head of the state emergency medical system said at the time.
Payne’s family reacted to the loss the day after, expressing how “heartbroken” they were.
“Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” his loved ones said in a statement. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Payne became a household name after rising to fame with Horan, Styles, Tomlinson and Malik when they formed One Direction with Simon Cowell’s help on “The X Factor” in 2010.
