Liam Payne’s Sister Shares Heartfelt Tribute Following His Tragic Death
Ruth Gibbins, the sister of One Direction star Liam Payne, has shared an emotional tribute to her late brother, who tragically passed away earlier this week in Argentina.
In a message posted on Instagram, Ruth expressed her grief and disbelief over the loss, stating, “I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you.” She continued, “My mind is struggling to comprehend what’s happened, and I can’t understand where you’ve gone.” Reflecting on her brother’s struggles, she added, “In recent years, you had to fight hard against so much that was thrown at you. You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music.”
Liam Payne, 31, passed away after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. His father, Geoff Payne, traveled to Argentina on Friday, where he visited the hotel and thanked fans gathered in mourning. Geoff also made a visit to the morgue, where his son’s body was being held while awaiting the results of toxicology tests.
Among those who have expressed their sorrow is Cheryl Tweedy, Payne’s former partner and the mother of their seven-year-old son, Bear. In a social media post, Tweedy described the loss as an “earth-shattering event” and called out the media for insensitive coverage, stating, “Before you comment or create content, think about how it would feel if your own family had to see it.” She added, “Please let Liam rest with some dignity.”
Zayn Malik, Payne’s former bandmate from One Direction, also shared his sadness, announcing on social media that he would be postponing the US leg of his tour until January due to “the heartbreaking loss experienced this week.”
According to an autopsy report, Payne’s cause of death was attributed to “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging” sustained from the fall. Authorities have indicated that the singer appeared to have been struggling with substance abuse at the time of the incident.
Simon Cowell, the creator of The X Factor where One Direction was first formed, also paid tribute to Payne, saying in an Instagram post, “I am truly devastated.” He reminisced about his time with Payne, saying, “You really cared about the people you met, and I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you.” Cowell recalled a recent meeting with Payne, where he saw glimpses of the “sweet, kind boy” he had known since the early days of his career.