Zayn Malik Pays Tribute To Fallen Bandmate Liam Payne At Leeds Concert

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 12: L-R Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of One Direction perform live at ‘X Factor’- The Final on December 12, 2013 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images)

In Leeds, Zayn Malik has shared a meaningful tribute to his fallen former bandmate, Liam Payne.

At the inaugural show of Malik’s ‘Stairway to the Sky’ tour, the singer paid homage to the fellow One Direction member, who died last month at the age of 31 following a fall in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

As his performance neared its end at the O2 Academy in Leeds, England, a message was projected onto the stage that honoured Payne.

LEEDS, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Zayn performs at O2 Academy Leeds on November 23, 2024 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Andrew Benge/Getty Images for ABA)

“Liam Payne 1993-2024,” the message read, followed by “Love you bro”—the same caption he posted when initially responding to Payne’s passing.

At this point, Malik and his band left the stage as his song ‘Stardust’ played for the audience.

LEEDS, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) A written tribute to Liam Payne appears onscreen during Zayn’s performance at O2 Academy Leeds on November 23, 2024 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Andrew Benge/Getty Images for ABA)

The show comes three days after Malik, 31, reunited with his former One Direction stars—Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson—for the first time since 2015 to attend Payne’s funeral in London.

When news first broke of the singer’s death, the remaining three bandmates released a joint statement.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” read an Instagram post. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.

“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”

Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik (L) 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. The funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne who died last month after falling from his Buenos Aires hotel room was held on Wednesday. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Malik, along with the others, shared his own tribute to Payne at the time, also revealing that he would reschedule dates for his tour given the “heartbreaking” circumstances.

“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me,” he wrote alongside a throwback photo of them. “I can’t help but think selfishly that there [were] so many more conversations for us to have in our lives… I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times of my life. When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid, you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know that you were my friend and I was loved.”