Zayn Malik announces he’s postponing tour following ‘heartbreaking’ death of Liam Payne
Topics: Celebrity, Liam Payne
Lucy Devine
Featured Image Credit: Stefania D'Alessandro/Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, Liam Payne
Zayn Malik has postponed his tour following the death of his One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne.
Payne, 31, died on 16 October after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with police saying they had been dispatched to the hotel CasaSur in Palermo.
Alberto Crescenti, the head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentina's Todo Noticias TV channel that the singer had fallen from his hotel room into a courtyard.
Following the devastating news, Malik has made the decision to postpone his tour.
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In a statement on Instagram, he wrote: "Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I've made the decision to postpone the US leg of the STAIRWAY TO THE SKY tour.
"The dates are being rescheduled for January and I'll post them as soon as it's all set in the next few days.
"Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for your understanding."
On Thursday (17 October), Malik shared a statement following the death of Payne, who he described as 'a brother'.
It read: "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.
"I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.
"When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.
"Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no fucks about telling people when they were wrong.
"Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.
"When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.
"I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next."
Malik added: "I lost a brother when you left us and can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly. I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.
"I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.
"Love you bro."
Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, rose to fame alongside Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, forming One Direction together on The X Factor in 2010.
After becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the world with five albums and four world tours, the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.
A year later, Payne and ex-girlfriend Cheryl Tweedy (formerly Cole) welcomed a son named Bear, before their relationship ended in 2018.