One Direction members release emotional joint statement following Liam Payne’s tragic death

The remaining members of One Direction – Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson – have expressed their sadness over the death of their former bandmate Liam Payne, who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

Payne, 31, was on holiday with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy when the incident occurred.

In a joint statement, the band said: “We are completely devastated by the news of Liam’s death. As time goes on and everyone is able, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, whom we loved very much. The memories we shared with him will be remembered forever. The band also expressed their thoughts for Liam’s family, friends and fans, concluding the statement with “We love you Liam.”

Liam Payne gained international fame as a member of One Direction after auditioning for The X Factor in 2010. The group went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Liam was in Buenos Aires to attend a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan.

A toxicology report is still pending, but Liam’s behavior was reportedly erratic in the hours before the tragic fall. Payne was a fan favorite and was seen interacting with fans outside his hotel just days before his death.