Family, friends, and fans gathered in Britain on Wednesday to bid farewell to Liam Payne, the One Direction star who tragically passed away last month after falling from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony.
Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson attended the private funeral service held at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, near London. His girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and ex-partner, Cheryl Tweedy of Girls Aloud, were also present to pay their respects.
A small group of fans stood behind a nearby cordon, watching as mourners embraced before entering the 12th-century church, which was adorned with floral tributes. Payne’s white horse-drawn hearse carried arrangements spelling out “Son” and “Daddy,” followed by his grieving parents.
The 31-year-old singer’s life was tragically cut short on October 16 when he fell from the balcony of his third-floor room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. A post-mortem examination revealed he died from “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging.” Investigators noted that Payne, reportedly under the influence of substances, was alone at the time of the fall.
Payne’s death sparked an outpouring of grief worldwide, with fans, family, and former bandmates mourning his loss. The band’s mentor, Simon Cowell, who helped form One Direction on The X Factor in 2010, also attended the funeral.
One Direction, which included Payne, Styles, Horan, Tomlinson, and Malik, rose to international stardom after forming on the hit talent show. Despite going on indefinite hiatus in 2016, the band remains one of the best-selling acts in music history. Payne also found solo success with hits like “Strip That Down,” though he had spoken openly in recent years about his struggles with substance abuse and the challenges of early fame.
Born and raised in Wolverhampton, England, Payne leaves behind his parents, two sisters, and a son he shared with Cheryl Tweedy. His family expressed their heartbreak in a statement, remembering him as a “kind, funny, and brave soul” who will forever live in their hearts.
