Zayn Malik paid tribute to his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne in the late musician’s hometown.
During the show on Friday (November 29), Malik told the crowd at the University of Wolverhampton at The Halls: “I’ve been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne.”
He had previously kicked off his UK tour in Leeds on November 23, and at the end of the show projected a tribute to Payne on the screen behind him showing the year of his birth and death alongside the message: ‘Love you bro’.
“We’ve been doing something at the end of the show every night, it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace. I hope you’re seeing this in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you Liam.”
Zayn Malik dedicated “It’s You” to Liam at his show in… pic.twitter.com/hIpraneAiy
— Remembering Liam Payne (@updatingljp) November 29, 2024
The initial tribute in Leeds was particularly poignant given that the gig took place just three days after Payne’s funeral. Cheryl, the other members of One Direction and Simon Cowell were among those in attendance at the funeral in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on Wednesday, just over a month after the singer died, aged 31.
Payne passed away on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with an autopsy confirming that the singer had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries.
Videos of the Wolverhampton gig show Malik saying: “Rest in peace. I hope you’re seeing this in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton. This is for you Liam,” before dedicating a performance of ‘iT’s YoU’ to his late bandmate.
Zayn Malik’s tribute to Liam Payne in Wolverhampton tonight. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/NB0bavodoP
— Remembering Liam Payne (@updatingljp) November 29, 2024
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The singer previously postponed the US leg of his tour following Payne’s death. He confirmed later that the shows would be rescheduled for January 2025.
Following the tragedy, Malik and Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson shared a statement following his sudden death.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. 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,” began their statement.
It continued: “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
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