‘Heartbroken’: family, friends and fans pay tribute to Liam Payne

Liam Payne’s family and stars from across the music world have led tributes to the former One Direction star after his death at a hotel in Argentina.

“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” his family said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Medics confirmed the death of the 31-year-old after he fell from a balcony into the courtyard of the CasaSur hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.

The X Factor – where Payne had his first audition as a 14-year-old and was later placed with other contestants in 2010 in the band that made his name – said that he would “leave a lasting legacy on the music industry”.

The former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary shared an Instagram photo of him and a teenage Payne on stage, describing him as “a joy” who “had time for everyone, [was] polite, grateful, and was always humble”.

He added: “The worst news. I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.”

Others remembering him included Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones guitarist, who recalled performing alongside Payne and One Direction for a performance of the boyband’s track Where Do Broken Hearts Go on The X Factor in 2014.

“I am shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Liam Payne. It was a pleasure to work with him on our X Factor performance,” Wood wrote on Instagram.

The Grammy-winning pop star Charlie Puth, who co-wrote Payne’s 2017 solo track Bedroom Floor, mourned Payne as a “major artist”.

“I am in shock right now,” Puth wrote in a series of Instagram stories featuring a photo of the pair together in the studio. “Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone … I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace.”

Listeners to BBC Radio 1 on Thursday morning heard Greg James opening his breakfast show by telling listeners the news had been “unbearably sad” to wake up to and that he would be processing it with them.

“It might be the first time someone you’ve idolised has died and that’s a really strange thing to get your head around. So go easy on yourself today because it’s a shock, it’s destabilising,” he said, addressing Payne’s fans.

“Even though you may not have not known Liam Payne personally, we do have these parasocial relationships where we do know these people to a certain extent and they are part of our lives, and when they’re gone that’s weird to deal with.”

The singer Olly Murs, who starred on The X Factor a year before One Direction, said on Instagram that he was “lost for words”, describing Payne’s death as “devastating”.

“We always had a good laugh when we saw each other, sometimes the catch-ups were only short and sweet but when we did it was mostly about how annoyingly good his hair always looked, or our love for Becks, the old XF (X Factor) days and the tour we shared together,” Murs wrote beside a picture of him and Payne.

Among collaborators who paid their respects was the German DJ Zedd, who made the 2017 song Get Low with Payne and said on X: “I can’t believe this is real … absolutely heartbreaking.”

The rapper Juicy J, who featured on an unreleased demo titled You, posted: “RIP Liam Payne wow I can’t believe it prayers up for the family.”

Lou Teasdale, a hair and makeup artist who worked extensively with One Direction on tour, said on X: “Sending you all so much love.”

The Irish pop duo Jedward, who competed in The X Factor one season before One Direction, wrote on X: “RIP Liam Payne condolences to friends and family”.

They also posted a follow-up “sending strength” to Payne’s family, including his former partner and X Factor judge Cheryl as well as their seven-year-old son, Bear.

Musicians and friends from outside the X Factor world also paid tribute. “So upsetting to hear the news,” Paris Hilton tweeted. “Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”

The author EL James said she was “heartbroken”. Payne had previously contributed the song For You with Rita Ora to the soundtrack of Fifty Shades Freed, the film adaptation of the final book in James’s Fifty Shades trilogy.

The British pop star Mabel posted to her Instagram story: “For so many years I always knew I could call you for support and big brotherly advice but now you’re gone.”

She continued: “My thoughts and prayers are with Liam’s family and friends during this time you’ll be so missed.”