Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday 20 October in Kengsinton Garden, London, to mourn Liam Payne, the singer and former member of One Direction who died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It was one of many commemorative events taking place around the world: fans from Glasgow, Paris, Sydney and New York, Madrid, Naples and many other cities left tributes to Payne over the weekend.
In London, crowds gathered near a statue of Peter Pan, where handmade signs, balloons and flowers were placed to honor Payne. His death had a profound resonance in Britain, where Payne first rose to fame on the reality show The X-Factor. Fans watched Payne, who grew up in Wolverhampton, England, compete in 2008 at age 14, where he was cut from the show early, only to return to auditions two years later. The judges paired him with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan and thus One Direction was born.
On Sunday, Lauren Anderson and Natasha Bradley, both 23, told the AP they went to the London park because they wanted to be with other people who shared their grief. “Parents don't really understand how much (One Direction) meant to us,” Bradley said.
Liam Payne fans sing “What Makes You Beautiful” at a memorial for the late One Direction member in London's Hyde Park. pic.twitter.com/TY0qWSr2Ws
— Variety (@Variety) October 20, 2024
Meanwhile, in Paris, mourning fans gathered in the Tuileries Gardens, where they sang songs, brought flowers and photos of Payne, along with letters and cards.
🔴Plusieurs centaines de fans sont réunis à #Paris to pay homage to Liam Payne, British singer and former member of the group #OneDirectionon Wednesday October 16th at the age of 31 years after a hotel call in Buenos Aires, Argentina. #LiamPayne pic.twitter.com/YO2kOmPP1G
— Charles Baudry (@CharlesBaudry) October 20, 2024
Here is a video of the Milan rally:
Fans gathering in Milan, Italy to honor and remember Liam Payne
Fans gathered in Milan, Italy, to honor and remember Liam Payne#LiamPayne pic.twitter.com/1UTGF2Q2L4
— Elena Bahar النا بهار (@elenabahar17) October 20, 2024
The weekend vigils followed those that took place in the hours after Payne fell from the third floor of his hotel room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Hundreds of Argentine fans gathered at the singer's hotel to join his wake, where they sang One Direction hits and cried together. «As soon as I found out, I dropped everything and ran, hoping that it was just fake news, that it wasn't true. But when I saw them take him away, it broke my heart,” Ariana, a fan from the city of Lanús, told Rolling Stone Argentina. «I couldn't take it anymore, I collapsed. All those hopes were completely gone.”
The bandmates released a statement Thursday. “We are completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. In time, and when everyone is able to do it, there will be more to say. But for now we will take time to grieve and grieve the loss of our brother whom we loved deeply.”
From Rolling Stone US.
