Liam Payne’s family, friends and former bandmates have gathered for a private funeral after the British singer died last month.
Former One Direction members Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson were all seen attending the service at St. Mary’s Church in the town of Amersham, northwest of London, where the funeral was being held on Wednesday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tributes flow for One Direction star Liam Payne.
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Music mogul Simon Cowell – who managed the hitmakers throughout their heyday – also travelled to Britain for the funeral.
The service was planned by his parents, Karen and Geoff Payne, with the church seen decorated with white roses and candle holders.
Payne died on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system, according to the country’s public prosecutor’s office, which launched an investigation.
Three individuals were later charged with “abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics”.
The Wolverhampton-born star had been in the Argentinian capital with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy to see Niall Horan perform in concert but had decided to stay in the city for some time afterwards. Kate had left just days before the incident occurred.
The musician had spoken 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 seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with singer Cheryl Tweedy. The couple confirmed they had split in 2018 but continued to co-parent.
Payne soared to global fame as part of One Direction, the group that was created on the British talent show The X Factor in 2010.
He and his former colleagues – Malik, Styles, Horan and Tomlinson – subsequently embarked on solo careers, after going on an “indefinite hiatus” in 2016.
The quartet were “completely devastated” over his death, according to a joint statement on Instagram.
“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,” Malik, Styles, Horan and Tomlinson posted on social media.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.
“We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam.”
– with AAP