One Direction stars gather for funeral of ex-bandmate Liam Payne
Liam Payne鈥檚 family, friends and former bandmates have come together to pay tribute to the at his funeral in England on Wednesday, just over a month after the star died at 31 in Argentina.
His former bandmates, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, attended the service at St. Mary鈥檚 Church in the town of Amersham, northwest of London. The church was decorated with white roses and candle holders.
Each of Payne鈥檚 former bandmates trickled into the venue on Wednesday, where several dozen fans and onlookers lined a quaint street in the picturesque town.
Just after 1 p.m. local time, a horse-drawn carriage moved into view, carrying Payne鈥檚 casket. The late singer鈥檚 mother wept and his father stood stoically, watching as their son鈥檚 coffin was removed from the hearse and walked inside.
Payne died on Oct. 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system, according to the country鈥檚 public prosecutor鈥檚 office, which launched an investigation. Three people are facing preliminary charges for crimes related to .
The musician spoke publicly about his challenges with substance abuse and his mental health. In the summer of 2023, he said he was marking six months of sobriety after completing treatment in a US facility. Later that year, he delayed his tour after suffering a kidney infection.
He is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with singer Cheryl Tweedy. The couple confirmed they had split in 2018 but continued to co-parent.
鈥楬e had so much more to give鈥�
Payne soared to global fame as part of One Direction, the group that was created on the British talent show 鈥淭he X Factor鈥� in 2010.
He and his former colleagues 鈥� Malik, Styles, Horan and Tomlinson 鈥� subsequently embarked on solo careers, after going on an 鈥渋ndefinite hiatus鈥� in 2016.
His band-members were 鈥渃ompletely devastated鈥� over his death, according to a joint statement .
鈥淲e will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,鈥� Malik, Styles, Horan and Tomlinson posted on social media. 鈥淭he memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.
鈥淲e will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.鈥�
Many fans had hoped for years that One Direction 鈥� a band that created pandemonium and achieved wild chart success 鈥� would one day reunite.
The tragic sight of four bandmates arriving for Payne鈥檚 funeral underscored the sudden and devastating nature of his passing.
鈥淚 was so gobsmacked. It brought tears to my eyes,鈥� Caroline Jordan, 58, told CNN on Wednesday. She had held her wedding inside St. Mary鈥檚 Church, and had followed Payne and his bandmates since they first formed on 鈥淭he X Factor.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e watched him from the minute they performed as a band,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e had so much more to give.鈥�
Victoria Horwood, 28, said she drove past Payne鈥檚 house each morning as she took her child to school. His music 鈥渉elped me through a lot of hard times,鈥� Horwood told CNN, and she attended several of One Direction鈥檚 concerts.