Zayn Malik honored his late bandmate Liam Payne with a heartfelt dedication during his Stairway to the Sky Tour stop in Payne’s hometown of Wolverhampton, England. The emotional moment marked Malik’s first public remarks about Payne, who tragically died on October 16.
Performing on Friday, November 29, Malik, 31, interrupted the concert to address the crowd. “I dedicate a song every night to my brother Liam Payne,” Malik explained to fans’ applause. He added: “Rest in peace. I hope you see that. We are in your home town this evening, Wolverhampton. This is for you, Liam. Here’s another song, “It’s You.”
Payne, also 31, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His untimely passing sent shock waves through fans and the music world, particularly among his former One Direction bandmates.
This wasn’t Malik’s first tribute to Payne. Kicking off his tour at the O2 Academy in Leeds on November 23, Malik closed his set with an emotional moment. As the song “Stardust” played, a message appeared on a screen: “Liam Payne 1993-2024, Love you bro,” displayed on a blue background with a red heart.
Malik had already delayed his US tour dates following Payne’s death, announcing the decision on Instagram Stories. “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I will be rescheduling the date,” Malik wrote. “Thank you for understanding.”
On November 20, Malik attended Payne’s funeral alongside his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, marking the first time the group had been seen together publicly since Malik’s departure from the group in 2015.
Malik’s US tour is scheduled to resume on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. He will perform in major cities including New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas before concluding the tour in San Francisco on February 3.
With these touching tributes, Malik continues to keep Payne’s memory alive, giving fans a glimpse of the deep bond the two shared despite the years that have passed since their One Direction days.
