Liam Payne Funeral: One Direction Band Members Help Lay Their Friend To Rest
Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson have gathered together to say a final goodbye to their band mate Liam Payne.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Singer Liam Payne attends the World Premiere of “I Am Bolt” at Odeon Leicester Square on November 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
For the first time in nine years, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson have gathered together. But standing outside St. Mary’s, a little 12th century church in Amersham, England, the reunion is sadly to say goodbye to their friend and One Direction band mate, Liam Payne, 31, who tragically died after falling from a hotel’s third-floor balcony in Argentina on October 16.
The boys—stylishly dressed in black suits and ties and with their weary eyes hidden behind large, rockstar sunglasses—cut sombre figures as Payne’s coffin was brought to the church in a white, horse-drawn carriage. Payne’s devastated parents, Geoff and Karen, arm-in-arm, bravely stood at the church entrance, watching on as their son’s coffin passed by. After news broke of Payne’s passing, it was Geoff who travelled to South America to help authorities bring his son’s body back to the UK, a flight which was tracked online by 11,000 fans worldwide watching Payne land on a tarmac for the last time.
Among the mourners at the funeral was Cheryl Tweedy who dated Payne from 2016 and 2018 and whom shares a seven-year-old son, Bear, with the late popstar. American influencer and Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy was seen arriving with Liz Hurley’s son Damien Hurley. X Factor judge Simon Cowell and his fiancée Lauren Silverman, as well as TV host James Corden, were also in attendance.
A heartbreaking floral tribute reading “daddy” from Payne’s son, Bear, was also spotted on his father’s coffin and then later on the lawn of the church.
Authorities in Buenos Aires confirmed earlier this month they had brought charges against a friend of Payne’s, a staff member from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel and an alleged drug dealer.
Some years ago, Payne was asked in an interview how he would like to be remembered. “Honestly, just being a nice guy,” he responded at the time. “I’d rather be known for being a nice guy than anything else.”
More to come.
AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Former One Direction band member Harry Styles leaves following the funeral of singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, United Kingdom. Former One Direction star Liam Payne’s private funeral in Amersham has been widely anticipated to draw celebrities and fans alike, wishing to pay their final respects. The singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Harry Styles attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Niall Horan attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Louis Tomlinson attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Zayn Malik attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Cheryl attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)Kate Cassidy arrives to attend the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, at St Mary’s church in Amersham, west of London on November 20, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Kate Cassidy (L) and model Damian Hurley arrives with Kate Cassidy arrive to attend the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, at St Mary’s church in Amersham, to the west of London on November 20, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: The horse drawn coffin of Liam Payne arrives at St Mary’s Church on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)The Horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, arrives ahead of his funeral service at a church in the Home Counties, to the west of London, on November 20, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: The parents of Liam Payne, Karen and Geoff Payne, watch as his coffin is carried into the funeral, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Karen Payne and Geoff Payne, parents of Liam, and Cheryl Tweedy leave following the funeral of singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)Pallbearers carry the coffin of late One Direction singer Liam Payne out of St Mary’s church following his funeral service in Amersham, west of London on November 20, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Flowers are carried into the church ahead of the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, in the Home Counties, to the west of London on November 20, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson carries an order of service as he leaves after attending the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, at a St Mary’s church in Amersham, west of London on November 20, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman after the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire on November 20, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)AMERSHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Simon Cowell is comforted by Geoff Payne (L) as they depart the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
