Zayn ‘Lost a Brother’ in Liam—Inside Their Complex Relationship Before His Death

For over a decade, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne’s relationship evolved alongside the whirlwind success of One Direction, their respective solo careers, and even some public ups and downs. After the news of Liam’s passing, we’re now taking a look back at the journey of their friendship—from those early X Factor days, to Zayn’s tribute to his late bandmate.

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Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024, after a fall from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The former One Direction star was 31 years old. According to Alberto Crescenti, chief of Buenos Aires emergency services, Payne suffered “serious injuries” that proved fatal before responders could intervene. “Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” Crescenti told La Nación . According to a preliminary autopsy report obtained by CNN , the pop star died after sustaining multiple injuries resulting in extensive “internal and external” hemorrhaging.

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A look back at Zayn Malik & Liam Payne’s relationship…

In honor of Liam’s memory, let’s take a walk down memory lane for his friendship with his former bandmate Zayn—from the ups and downs of their early days with One Direction, all the way to their solo careers.

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