The Grammys viewers ‘left in tears’ over heartbreaking Liam Payne tribute during award show

Liam Payne has received a special tribute at this year's Grammy Awards.

Live from the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles tonight (2 Feb), the former One Direction star - who tragically fell to his death from a third-storey hotel balcony in October 2024 - was the focus of an emotional tribute.

The 31-year-old was staying at the hotel CasaSur in Buenos Aires, Argentina last October, where he was supporting former bandmate Niall Horan on his South American string of concerts, when he fatally fell from the balcony.

Fans initially wondered whether Payne's former One Direction bandmates would pay tribute to him (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

A UK inquest earlier this month confirmed that Payne's death was caused by 'polytrauma' - which refers to multiple traumatic injuries - after which the hotel’s manager, a receptionist, and a friend were charged with manslaughter. A hotel employee and waiter have also since been charged with supplying cocaine.

In the weeks that followed, tributes from fans and friends flooded in - including from each of his One Direction bandmates, all of whom also attended his funeral in November.

The event was also attended by the likes of his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, his former manager Simon Cowell, presenter pal James Corden, Payne's former partner Cheryl Tweedy, and their eight-year-old son.

Despite mass speculation ahead of the tear-jerking moment during tonight's 67th Grammy Awards, Ben Winston - a former friend to Payne and his 1D bandmates - confirmed that Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Niall Horan would not be performing together in honour of their fallen brother.

He confirmed, however, that the evening's schedule would include a general tribute. Take a look here:

In a special segment to 'remember those we've lost from the music industry this past year', Grammys host Trevor Noah then introduced several clips of late performers, beginning with Payne, as Coldplay's Chris Martin took to the stage.

Payne could be heard saying in a pre-recorded VT: "We never expected any of this to happen - I sit and think, 'Oh, we've actually done something amazing'."

The segment has since left fans heartbroken, with one writing on X (formerly Twitter): "the tribute to liam really has me bawling :(( seeing stuff like this and it still just doesn’t even feel real."

Another wrote: "the in memoriam segment starting with liam payne got me".

"The Liam Payne tribute at the #GRAMMYs just hurt my heart all over again," a third went on.

The segment began with a tribute to Payne (The Grammys/CBS)

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Winston previously explained: "It is a very difficult time. Losing Liam was very, very tough. No doubt about it. But, no, there will be no One Direction performance.

"He was the most beautiful, wonderful boy and I love him very, very much. He is in, of course, our In Memoriam, without question."

Winston - who worked with the band on their music videos for the likes of 'You & I', 'Midnight Memories' and 'Night Changes' - also revealed how Payne's death affected he and his colleagues.

"Actually that is a very sad thing for me — when you are going through rehearsals and seeing the clips and a guy that was sat in this office four weeks before that tragedy happened," he admitted, adding that an In Memoriam for his friend is 'not something' he'd 'ever have imagined'.

"It is extra sad for people — not just me who loved Liam, but for many," he went on.

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