Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan joined his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson at their bandmate Liam Payne's funeral today, Wednesday, November 20.
Horan was reportedly accompanied by his girlfriend Amelia Woolley for the private funeral which was held at St. Mary’s Church in Amersham, England on Wednesday.
Footage of Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Kate Cassidy, Damian Hurley and Nicola Roberts after the funeral service of Liam Payne (Nov 20, 2024) pic.twitter.com/kwm2aqOwkY
— y2k (@y2kpopart) November 20, 2024
Also in attendance at Payne's funeral were his parents Karen and Geoff, his ex Cheryl Tweedy with whom he shared a son named Bear, Simon Cowell, who is credited with helping to form One Direction in 2010 on "X Factor UK," as well as Payne's partner Kate Cassidy.
One Direction member Niall Horan hugs another mourner as he arrives at bandmate Liam Payne's funeral
📸: @BradyBoxBrownie pic.twitter.com/lcqIorgDXi
— PA Entertainment (@PAshowbiz) November 20, 2024
A navy blue coffin adorned with white roses, including arrangements that said "Son" and "Daddy" arrived at the church on Wednesday in a white horse-drawn carriage.
31-year-old Payne tragically died on October 16 after falling from a balcony on the third floor of a hotel he was staying at in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Authorities afterward said that Payne's cause of death was "multiple trauma" and "internal and external hemorrhage."
Authorities later said that the results of Payne's toxicology tests "revealed that, in the moments before his death and in the period of at least his last 72 hours, Payne only had traces of polydrug use of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body."
The Public Prosecutors Office in Argentina announced on November 11 that three people have since been charged with "crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics."
Payne had arrived in Argentina on September 30 and went on to attend Horan's solo concert in Buenos Aires on October 2. The stop was part of the Co Westmeath native's "The Show" international tour.
The two snapped a selfie after the concert:
Liam Payne and Niall Horan reunite in new photo from Niall’s Argentina concert. pic.twitter.com/IXBUn5pDnP
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 4, 2024
The day after Payne's death, Horan and his former One Direction bandmates issued a joint statement that said in part: "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.
"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."
The message was the first post on One Direction's Instagram page, which now has more than 24 million followers, since July 2020.
One Direction - Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles - pictured here in 2014. (Getty Images)
The following day, Horan posted his own personal tribute to Payne.
"I'm absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn't feel real," Horan wrote.
"Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.
"All the laughs we had over the years, Sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness. We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn't happen often in a lifetime.
"I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn't know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It's heartbreaking.
"My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear.
"Thank you for everything, Payno.
"Love you brother.
"Nialler."
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Payne, a native of Wolverhampton in London, was one member of the global phenomenon boy band One Direction, which was formed on the X-Factor UK in 2010.
One Direction in Dublin in 2011. (RollingNews.ie)
Through the band, Payne and Horan formed a close friendship that remained intact even after One Direction went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 2016.
Happy birthday @Real_Liam_Payne .. Have a great day man .... Here we are making strange faces pic.twitter.com/VgZRN7VIPs
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) August 29, 2015
Payne and Horan, as well as their other three band members, each embarked on their own solo careers with varying levels of success.
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