Zayn Malik pays on stage tribute to Liam Payne in his hometown

The singer, 31, had kicked disconnected his Stairway To The Sky circuit successful Leeds’s O2 Academy, with an on-stage bluish surface connection which read: “Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro” with a pinkish heart.

However, helium has not appeared to straight talk astir Payne, who died aged 31 successful Argentina past month, during the tour.

According to societal media videos, Malik told the University of Wolverhampton venue The Halls venue: “I’ve been doing something, astatine the extremity of the show, each night, and it’s been dedicated to my member Liam Payne. Rest successful peace.

“I anticipation you’re seeing this, we’re successful your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you, Liam.”

Malik rescheduled his tour’s archetypal opening dates successful Edinburgh owed to Payne’s funeral, which was besides attended by his chap One Direction stars Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan.

He near One Direction successful 2015 earlier the radical went connected indefinite hiatus successful 2016, with the members each going connected to prosecute their ain solo careers.

Following the decease of Payne, Malik said helium “never got to thank” his chap bandmate for supporting him done immoderate of the “most difficult” times successful his life.

“I mislaid a member erstwhile you near america and can’t explicate to you what I’d springiness to conscionable springiness you a hug 1 past clip and accidental goodbye to you decently and archer you that I loved and respected you dearly”, helium added successful a connection shared to Instagram.

“I volition cherish each the memories I person with you successful my bosom forever.

“There is nary words that warrant oregon explicate however I consciousness close present different than beyond devastated.

“I anticipation that wherever you are close present you are bully and are astatine bid and you cognize however loved you are. Love you, bro.”

Payne antecedently postponed the US limb of his Stairway To The Sky circuit implicit the “heartbreaking loss” of Payne.

An probe has been launched into Payne’s decease by Argentinian prosecutors and 3 radical person been charged successful transportation with the incident.

Payne died connected October 16 of aggregate traumas and “internal and outer haemorrhage” aft falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel successful Buenos Aires, a post-mortem introspection study said.

Malik volition adjacent execute astatine Manchester connected Saturday, earlier heading to Leeds and Newcastle.