Fans were crying their eyes out near the building: One Direction members pay tribute to Liam Payne, who fell out of a hotel window. Photo

The members of the British band One Direction have issued a statement following the death of their former bandmate Liam Payne, who died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel. Musicians Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Harry Styles are "truly devastated" by the news.

"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," the band said in a statement posted on Instagram.

The artists also shared their emotional farewells on their social media pages the day after Payne's death. "I'm truly devastated by Liam's passing," Stiles wrote, posting a photo of Liam from the back looking out at the packed arena, "His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honor to be alongside him as he did it."

Tomlinson wrote a long letter to his friend, accompanied by a photo of Payne smiling on stage. "Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul," he wrote, "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."

Malik shared an archival photo of him and Payne sleeping in a car. "Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can't help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives," the singer wrote.

On the evening of October 17, fans gathered outside the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires to sing One Direction's hits to honor the memory of the star who died there the day before. They brought bouquets of flowers and candles to the building. Photos from the scene show that many of them could not hold back their tears.

Payne first auditioned for the British talent show The X Factor as a solo artist in 2008 and became successful when he returned in 2010. Simon Cowell, a music producer and television presenter, teamed Payne with Styles, Horan, Malik and Tomlinson in a group that later became One Direction, one of the most popular boy bands of the early 2010s. In 2015, the musicians announced that they would take a break from performing as an ensemble to focus on their solo careers. In 2016, however, it became known that the band broke up for good.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!