The members of One Direction—Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik—came together for the first time in nine years to bid farewell to Liam Payne.
Payne’s coffin was brought to the church in Amersham, England, in a white horse-drawn carriage, arriving shortly after other mourners. Attendees included his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, along with Simon Cowell, James Corden, Jamie Scott, and Rochelle Humes, according to Rolling Stone.
Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts of Girls Aloud have shown their support for Cheryl Cole, Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend from 2016 to 2018, with whom he shares a 7-year-old son.
The service itself was private, but many fans and photographers gathered outside the church. Most fans have chosen to honor Payne’s memory respectfully, holding vigils and tributes in cities worldwide in the days and weeks after his passing.
Liam Payne passed away from multiple trauma, including internal and external bleeding, as well as a head injury, after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Hotel in Palermo on October 16. Three individuals—a friend of Payne’s, a hotel employee, and an alleged drug dealer—were accused of providing the singer with drugs on two occasions before his death.
On the heartbreaking day of Liam Payne’s passing, tributes and messages of support flooded in from his close friends, family, and colleagues.
In the days following his death, Payne’s former bandmates—Tomlinson, Malik, Horan, and Styles—each shared personal tributes on social media. Additionally, they released a joint statement on One Direction’s official Instagram account, marking the first post on the account since July 2020. The band had been on an indefinite hiatus since 2016.
What Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend asked of the fans
Cheryl Cole, Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend, issued a statement asking for privacy and respect as she and Payne’s family continue to grieve. She wrote on social media:
“As I try to navigate this heartbreaking event and move past my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I would like to remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” Cole shared. “Liam wasn’t just a pop star and a celebrity; he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend, and a father to our 7-year-old son. A son who now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.”
She continued, urging fans to think carefully about their actions: “Please consider what some of these messages are for, other than to cause further harm to all those left behind who are trying to gather. Before leaving comments or making videos, ask yourself if you want your own child or family to read them. Please give Liam what little dignity he has left in his death to finally rest in peace.”
Tension between the surviving band members
Although the One Direction members had been close, their last gathering was to support Louis Tomlinson after his mother’s death, another tragic event. Since then, tensions have developed within the group. Despite this, Cheryl Cole, who has been a huge support to Liam’s family, including his parents and sisters, helped to ease the divide between the former bandmates.
An insider explained, “Of course, they all wanted to be there; they shared so much with Liam. But that doesn’t mean they’re still best friends. They haven’t worked together in almost ten years—they’ve become estranged. In fact, the last time they all got together was because Simon Cowell insisted after Louis’ mum died, and that was eight years ago.”
What happened after Liam’s funeral
Following the vigil, Cheryl reportedly led Liam’s family and friends, including the One Direction members, to a tent in the back garden of Liam’s mansion in Buckinghamshire. Despite the years of distance between them, the band members were united in grief at the memorial inside the tent.
During the service, Liam’s friends shared fond memories, including how he maintained a special bond with his son through life-size dinosaur statues, which symbolized hope and precious moments.
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