Justin Bieber has paid a heartbreaking tribute to Liam Payne – five days after his shocking death at the age of 31.
The 31-year-old singer, who dominated the charts with the boy band in the 2010s, shared a somber video with floral tributes and messages in Liam’s memory – with the message: “Rest in peace, Liam.” This was followed by a broken heart emoji.
The One Direction star fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, dying instantly from multiple injuries that led to “internal and external bleeding.”
A voiceover on the clip said: “Remember: as a fan you are allowed to grieve. You’re allowed to love someone you’ve never met.
‘You can admire someone for his art. You can cry, break down, feel like a part of you is gone.’
Justin Bieber has paid a heartbreaking tribute to Liam Payne – five days after his shocking death at the age of 31
Payne died on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Liam and Justin had a chart-topping rivalry that turned into a full-fledged feud after a YouTube video showed Liam Payne appearing to make a move on the Canadian singer.
But despite their initial feud, Liam previously revealed how he and Bieber eventually connected and discovered they had a lot more in common than their boyish charm and good looks.
In a podcast segment with YouTube star Logan Paul, filmed in 2022, which has resurfaced in the wake of his tragic death, the One Direction member revealed that he had contacted Bieber in an attempt to end the feud, and hinted at some of the striking parallels between the pair in the early days of their careers.
The British boy band sold more than 70 million records worldwide, while Bieber sold more than 150 million.
On Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Payne told his side of the story, recalling speaking on Instagram while “drunk” when someone mentioned Justin Bieber’s name.
Payne recalled, “I was like, ‘well, the only thing between me and him is that I didn’t get arrested,’” noting in the same breath that he never intended to offend Bieber.
He added: ‘It started some beef.’
Payne recalled how the feud, which started online, spilled over into real life, as One Direction and Bieber shared a fan following and the stars themselves often bumped into each other at awards shows.
The 31-year-old singer, who dominated the charts with the boy band in the 2010s, shared a somber video with floral tributes and messages engraved in Liam’s memory – with the message: ‘Rest in peace, Liam’
However, he noticed one particular awards ceremony when both the band and Bieber were present, and Liam thought, “I’ll have a talk with him” to resolve the conflict.
About Bieber at the time, Liam said: “He had grown as a person.”
He then recalled telling Bieber, “I’ve always felt for you… number one, I’ve done all the things you’ve done and I haven’t been caught for any of them… number two, I ‘I always really felt for you mate, and i think in our situation we all suffer from the same disease’.
He then claimed that he told the Canadian singer that while Bieber could lean on his bandmates in times of struggle, he was a solo artist who might not have the same support system.
Payne claims Bieber’s response was, “Bro, that gives me chills.” From there the pair became friends.
He added that, based on his own experiences, he wanted to help other young men and boys entering the world of show business cope with the overwhelming nature of the industry.
Liam told the same story to Rollacoaster magazine in 2017, where he described Bieber as “a great guy” with “a really good heart.”
About the time he broke bread with the Canadian singer, he added, “I told him, ‘Take my number and let me know if you want to have a chat, because I’m here and I understand exactly what you’re talking about. and I understand your world.”
Liam began his quest for fame when he first auditioned for the X Factor in 2008.
At just 14 years old, Liam impressed the judges with his own version of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, but was later eliminated from the show.
However, Payne gave his singing career another chance by auditioning for the competition again in 2010, where he quickly rose to fame as part of One Direction.
He and his former bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson were brought together by Simon Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger who saw their potential as a group.
After releasing five albums with one of the biggest boy bands of all time, Liam released his first solo album in 2019, titled LP1.
His singles Strip That Down, co-written with Ed Sheeran, climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.
Over the course of his music career, the pop star has collaborated with J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, among others.
He previously dated British pop sensation Cheryl Cole and the couple welcomed their son Bear Gray on March 22, 2017. The parents later split in 2018.
He previously dated British pop sensation Cheryl Cole and the couple welcomed their son Bear Gray on March 22, 2017.
Following his romance with the Girls Aloud singer, Liam had an on-off relationship with ex-fiancée Maya Henry, and the pair called it quits in May 2022.
Bieber and One Direction – pictured in 2014 – were chart rivals in the 2010s – Payne is seen with bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles
