Fans gathered at vigils across the UK and worldwide to mourn the death of Liam Payne, 31, who fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Tributes included flowers and songs, reflecting the deep connection fans felt with the former star.
Fans mourning Liam Payne's death gathered across Britain and beyond at organized vigils on Sunday, with at least 1,000 people paying tribute to the former One Direction star in central London.
The vigils came four days after Payne tragically passed away at age 31, following a fall from the balcony of his Buenos Aires hotel room. His sudden death has prompted an outpouring of grief and condolences from family, former bandmates, fans, and others. Investigators reported that Payne appeared to have been "going through an episode of substance abuse."
In London, the memorial at the Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park was arranged through social media, with attendees encouraged to bring "flowers, letters, balloons, and pictures." Many obliged, gathering under umbrellas in the rain with these items in hand. The mostly young crowd sang One Direction songs and observed moments of silence to honor the singer.
"He was such a big part of our childhood — we just came to pay our respects," said Katie Etchells, 20, a student wearing a One Direction t-shirt. Like many others, she initially thought reports of Payne’s death were "fake news" and described the truth as "very upsetting."
"I think he’d be happy to know that so many people love him," said a tearful Luna Franco, 20, from Italy.
Musician Shukhrat Turdikhodjaev, 21, said he had gone from "disbelief" to shock when he learned of Payne’s passing. He added that the large turnout demonstrated Payne’s ability to "connect and unify so many different people."
Beyond London, hundreds gathered in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, as well as Paris, New York, Stockholm, and numerous other places. Fans were also set to gather later Sunday in Birmingham, near Payne’s hometown of Wolverhampton.
Liam Payne shot to global fame as a teenager in 2010 as part of the hugely successful pop group One Direction, which was formed after its members competed on The X Factor. The band's meteoric rise and loyal fan base endured long after their hiatus.
Sunday’s vigils echoed similar gatherings across Latin America over the past few days. In Buenos Aires, tearful fans continued to gather in front of the Casa Sur Hotel, where Payne died. An altar has been created there, filled with flowers and messages. His father, Geoff Payne, visited the site on Friday to thank fans, sharing in their grief.
Impromptu ceremonies for Payne have also taken place in Mexico City, the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, and various towns and cities in Colombia.
Grief-stricken reactions continue to pour in. Cheryl Tweedy, Payne’s former partner and the mother of their seven-year-old son, called his death an “earth-shattering event.” On Saturday, Zayn Malik, Payne’s One Direction bandmate, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would postpone the US leg of his tour until January due to “the heartbreaking loss experienced this week.”
An autopsy revealed Payne died from “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging” after the fall from his hotel balcony. It suggested he had not attempted to stop his fall and was likely in a state of “semi or total unconsciousness” before his death. Payne, who had openly discussed his struggles with alcohol and the pressures of early fame, was alone at the time of the incident and appeared to be “going through an episode of substance abuse,” according to investigators.
At the London vigil, fan Chelsea Willy, 20, summed up the feelings of many. “It’s just really sad,” said the actress. “I’ve been a fan of him since I was very little,” she added, noting she cried when she heard the news.
With AFP
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