Harry Styles, One Direction bandmates attend

On November 23, 2024By Littum

Liam Payne was memorialized at a funeral on Wednesday with his family and One Direction bandmates in attendance.

The 31-year-old singer and One Direction alum died on Oct. 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony.

Payne’s service was held at St. Mary’s Church in Amersham, England, about 30 minutes northwest of London and not far from his hometown. The funeral was private, but some fans gathered outside and an area was set up outside for the media.

A horse-drawn carriage carrying Payne’s casket arrived in front of the church as his parents, Karen and Geoff Payne, was seen crying. Four pallbearers brought the casket into the church as attendees watched.

One Direction stars Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson were seen arriving at the funeral, as well as Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy and friends Simon Cowell, James Corden, model Damian Hurley and “Girls Aloud” singer Kimberley Walsh.

Payne achieved global fame as part of the since-disbanded pop group. Payne is survived by his 7-year-old child Bear, who he shared with British singer Cheryl Cole.

Liam Payne funeral: Casket arrives for service

One Direction mourns Liam Payne: What the band have said

Styles, Malik, Horan and Tomlinson released one joint statement a day after Payne’s death in October on the official One Direction Instagram page.

“We are completely devastated by the news of Liam’s death,” the statement began. “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 whom we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him , will be cherished forever.”

The statement concluded: “For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and the fans who loved him beside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

In individual statements, Malik said he was “beyond devastated” by Payne’s passing, and Tomlinson called Payne the “kind brother I’ve longed for my whole life.”

Styles shared a rare post on social media in memory of his “lovely friend.”

“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles wrote in a slide that followed a photo of Payne performing on tour. “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honor to be with him while he was doing that.”

Horan said he felt “so lucky” to see Payne recently when the two reconnected at Horan’s Oct. 2 concert in Argentina: “Unfortunately, I didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that night, I wanted to say goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Liam Payne death investigation leads to 3 arrests

Earlier this month, three people were charged in Argentina following an investigation into Payne’s death. The three suspects were criminally charged “with crimes of abandoning a person after death” and “delivery and facilitation of narcotics.”

Prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea, head of the National Criminal and Correctional Service of Argentina, said in the November 7 statement that one of the suspects is a person who allegedly followed Payne daily during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires. Prosecutors said the second person is a hotel employee accused of supplying the singer with drugs during his stay, while the third person is alleged to have supplied drugs to Payne days before his death.

According to prosecutors, Payne’s stay at the Casa Sur hotel began on October 13. Investigators believe at least four narcotics were delivered to the singer in the days before his death.

The internal and external injuries sustained by Payne were “consistent” with a fall from a third-floor balcony, according to Madrea, and third-party involvement was ruled out. Tests showed that Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system in the 72 hours before his death.

Investigators currently believe he was in a state of partial or full unconsciousness at the time of his fall and have ruled out the possibility that the fall was voluntary.

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This story has been updated to include additional information.