Zayn Malik pays tribute to Liam Payne at first tour stop since his death

Zayn Malik returned to the stage – and honored one of the first people he ever shared a stage with.

At the first show of the “Dusk Till Dawn” singer’s Stairway to the Sky Tour on Saturday, November 23, Malik paid tribute to One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who died on October 16 at the age of 31.

The “PILLOWTALK” singer, 31, ended his show at the O2 Academy in Leeds, England – Malik’s first since Payne’s death – with a tribute to the late singer. After playing his penultimate song, a message about Payne appeared when his track “Stardust” was played, fan-caught footage shows.

“Liam Payne 1993-2024,” the screen read over a blue background with a red heart. “Love you bro.”

The Room under the stairs the artist’s tribute came three days after Malik attended Payne’s funeral alongside his former One Direction bandmates – Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan – marking the first time he had been seen in public with them since leaving the group in 2015.

Malik’s performance at the funeral also came shortly after he changed dates for his tour. On October 19, three days after Payne’s death, the singer announced on Instagram that “Given the heartbreaking loss he experienced this week,” he would be postponing the US leg of his upcoming tour.

“Love you all and thank you for your understanding,” he wrote at the time.

The first show was originally set for October 23 and has since been moved to early next year. After his Leeds show, Malik has more gigs lined up in the UK, including Manchester, London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Payne died on October 16 when he fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He died of multiple injuries and “internal and external” bleeding, according to a preliminary autopsy report.

A day later, on October 17, Malik and his bandmates shared a rare group statement — their first since Malik’s departure nearly ten years ago — responding to their bandmate’s sudden death.

“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 band continued. “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 Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”

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Malik also shared his own tribute, writing a message to Payne on Instagram.

Alongside a throwback photo of the duo during their boy band days, the singer wrote in part that he “lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I would give to just give you one last hug walk and say a proper goodbye to you and tell you that I loved and respected you very much.”

“Will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there are no words to justify or explain how I feel right now other than devastated,” he continued. “I hope that wherever you are right now, you are well and at peace and you know how loved you are.”