Louis Tomlinson Pays Emotion Tribute To Liam Payne: 'I’ll Always Be Your Big Brother'

Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmates have expressed deep sorrow, remembering him as an exceptionally talented artist. Following the tragic passing of their beloved bandmate, the group issued a joint statement mourning the loss of their “brother.” Each member later took to social media to post heartfelt tributes, with many addressing Payne directly. Louis Tomlinson, who shared a close bond with Payne, posted a poignant tribute on Instagram Stories, featuring a monochrome collage of cherished moments from their time performing together on stage.

The second story, in full colour, spotlighted a candid moment from the previous collage, showing the two facing one another with their arms raised, as Payne playfully poured a beverage over them.

“This picture summed up our relationship. I love you. I’ll always be your big brother,” Tomlinson captioned the story.

In addition to the band’s official joint statement on Instagram, Tomlinson, who remained close to Payne even after the band’s hiatus, had issued his own deeply emotional reflection.

“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,” Louis wrote on Thursday night (Oct 17).

“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. Liam was an incredible songwriter with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band. And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.”

Tomlinson’s tribute followed the devastating news of Payne’s death, at the age of 31 had tragically fallen from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina on October 16, plunging over 40 feet. Payne had been in the country for several weeks, attending his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires just days before his untimely passing.