Fans across the UK and around the world are gathering this weekend to remember One Direction star Liam Payne, who tragically passed away on Wednesday.
Vigils have already taken place in his hometown of Wolverhampton and in Liverpool, with more planned for cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham on Sunday.
Outside the UK, fans have also held gatherings in places like Sydney and Manila.
Payne, who was just 31 years old, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, and while his body has not yet been repatriated to the UK, his fans are coming together to mourn his loss and celebrate his life.
The memorials have been widely shared on social media, with fans organizing these events and encouraging others to bring flowers, letters, and messages in honor of Payne.
In Liverpool, for example, a group of Directioners gathered at the Keel Warf Bridge at Royal Albert Dock, leaving behind photographs, flowers, and signs with lyrics from One Direction’s songs, such as “I’m missing half of me when we’re apart.”
The group also sang the band’s songs, creating a somber but heartfelt atmosphere as they paid tribute to the singer who had been a significant part of their lives.
In Payne’s birthplace, Wolverhampton, approximately 100 people gathered to pay their respects, bowing their heads and laying flowers outside St Peter’s Church.
The scene was filled with emotional tributes, including a photo of Payne as a child surrounded by candles.
Fans around the globe have joined in mourning, with gatherings not only in the UK but also at the hotel in Buenos Aires where he was found, as well as in Sydney, where a fan named Amber spoke to the media about the profound sense of loss she felt.
On Sunday, a vigil is scheduled to take place in London’s Hyde Park. Alicia Sinclair, a 22-year-old from Hertfordshire who is organizing the event, shared how One Direction had been a “light” in many people’s lives, including her own.
She explained that for many fans, including herself, the band’s music was intertwined with personal memories, making Payne’s death feel like the end of an era.
Similarly, another fan named Christina reflected on the deep impact Payne had on his followers, mentioning how she had been a dedicated fan for over a decade.
Payne’s rise to fame came through the boy band One Direction, which was formed on the talent show The X Factor in 2010.
The band, comprising Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan, quickly became a global sensation. After Malik left in 2015 to pursue a solo career, the band eventually went on hiatus in 2016.
Payne’s death has been especially difficult for his former bandmates, with Malik recently postponing the U.S. leg of his tour due to the “heartbreaking loss” of his friend and former bandmate.
Payne’s family has also been deeply affected, with his sister Ruth Gibbins sharing an emotional tribute on Instagram.
She described her brother as her “best friend” and expressed the pain of losing him, stating that she did not feel the world had been “good enough or kind enough” to him.
Her words resonate with many fans who have similarly struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss, underscoring the profound bond that Payne had formed with those who followed his career from the beginning.
