Harry Styles' mum Anne Twist pays emotional three-word tribute to Liam Payne

The post got thousands of 'likes'

Harry Styles' mother has paid tribute to Liam Payne. Anne Twist took to social media to share a broken-hearted emoji after it was revealed Harry's former One Direction bandmate Liam had died aged the age of 31.

She wrote on Instagram: "Just a boy ..."

Anne's post received more than 760,000 likes in four hours, and a number of her 2.5 million followers paid tribute to Liam in the comments.

One wrote: "Gone too soon and so young. Forever in our hearts Liam"

Another posted: "He had a huge heart. What a loss for those who knew and loved him."

One commented: "I am devastated, sad, desolate... Lots of love to all those who loved him, to his family and his son, friends and to the boys."

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik's sister Waliyha has also paid tribute to Liam following his death.

She posted a picture with the late star, and wrote on X: "I can't believe it, I honestly have no words for this sad moment... I really can't believe it"

Liam, Harry and Zayn met in 2010 when they were put together in band One Direction - alongside Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - on TV talent show 'The X Factor'.

Zayn quit the group in 2015, and the 'What Makes You Beautiful' hitmakers went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016 after releasing five albums, 'Up All Night', 'Take Me Home', 'Midnight Memories', 'Four', and 'Made in the A.M', which spawned singles such as 'Steal My Girl', 'Best Song Ever', and 'Drag Me Down'.

Tragically, Liam - who had seven-year-old son Bear with former 'X Factor' judge Cheryl - passed away on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

He is said to have attended one of Niall's concerns in Argentina earlier this month.