Niall Horan Reacts to One Direction Bandmate Liam Payne's Death: 'It Just Doesn't Feel Real'

Mar. 15, 2025

Niall Horanis mourning his former bandmate.

The Irish singer posted a heartfelt tribute toLiam Payneon social media on Friday, Oct. 18, following the news that the 31-year-old former One Direction memberdied in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 16.

Payne died after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to PEOPLE.

“All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness,” Horan continued. “We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.”

Horan then went on to reference seeing Payne earlier this month when heattendedone of Horan’s shows on his ongoingThe Show: Live on Tour. Payne was at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires forHoran’s Oct. 2 performance.

Liam Payne (left) and Niall Horan in Los Angeles in 2017.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Payne had appeared to enjoy himself when attended Horan’s show on Oct. 2, as in fan-captured video from the concert the singer could be seen clapping along to the music and also posing for photos and videos, perPop Crave.

He had told fans on Snapchat videos ahead of the concert that he and girlfriend Kate Cassidy wanted to “say hello” to Horan.

“It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken. We’ve got a lot to talk about. And I would like to square up a couple of things with the boy. No bad vibes or anything like that. But just,um, we need to talk," Payne said in a Snapchat clip reshared toX (formerly Twitter).

Liam Payne (left) and Niall Horan performing with One Direction.Jeff Daly/NBC via Getty

Jeff Daly/NBC via Getty

Horan and Payne performed together in the beloved boy band from 2010-2016. The other original members of the band includedHarry Styles,Zayn MalikandLouis Tomlinson. Malik left the band in 2015, ahead ofMade in the A.M., which was their fifth and final album before going on anindefinite hiatus. All five went on to release solo music.

Payne had reflected on his relationships with his former bandmates the year before his death as “What Makes You Beautiful,” One Direction’s first single, reached 1 billion streams.

“I’m learning about myself and what was all of this for,“he said in 2023. “But now when I listen back and think of the power we all had including you as a fanbase I’m so happy that for five years we made such a great soundtrack to life.”

source: people.com