Liam Payne’s Funeral: Former One Direction Bandmates Attend Service Today

Topline

Liam Payne’s family and friends, including all four of his former One Direction bandmates, mourned the singer at his funeral Wednesday, held a month after the singer died at age 31 after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires.

Key Facts

Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan all attended his funeral, a private service at St. Mary’s Church in Buckinghamshire, England.

Kate Cassidy, Payne’s girlfriend who was with him in Buenos Aires until days before his death, was one of the first to arrive at the service, The Independent reported.

Cheryl Cole, Payne’s former girlfriend and the mother of his seven-year-old son Bear, who was also a judge on “The X Factor” when he auditioned, attended, as well as her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.

Other attendees included television presenter James Corden, BBC Radio host Scott Mills and “X Factor” judge Simon Cowell, who helped piece together One Direction in 2010.

Payne’s coffin was carried to the funeral by a horse-drawn carriage and topped with white roses, while floral tributes to the singer outside the church spelled out “daddy” and “son.”

The Independent reported Payne’s family wished to keep details of the ceremony private, with only family and close friends in attendance, as fans urged one another on social media to stay away from the funeral.

Key Background

Payne died at age 31 after falling from the balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires on Oct. 16. Toxicology reports showed Payne had a mix of drugs in his system at the time of his death, including “pink cocaine,” typically a mix of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and other substances, as well as alcohol and antidepressants. Prior to his death, the hotel manager called emergency services to report a guest “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” who had “destroyed some objects in the room.” Weeks later, three people were charged in connection with Payne’s death. A friend of Payne was charged with “crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death,” and another two were charged with supplying narcotics to Payne.

What Have Payne’s Family And Friends Said?

Payne’s family released a statement the day after his death, stating they are “heartbroken” and will remember the singer for his “kind, funny and brave soul.” Payne’s One Direction bandmates—whom Payne was linked with on “The X Factor” in 2010 and sold millions of records with until their hiatus in 2016—released a joint statement on Instagram after his death, stating they are “completely devastated” and will “take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.” All four also released individual statements mourning Payne.

Further Reading

Three People Charged In Connection To Liam Payne’s Death (Forbes)

Mentor Nicole Scherzinger Remembers Liam Payne’s ‘Light And Laughter’: What To Know About His Death (Forbes)