Justin Bieber Pays Respect to Liam Payne with a Touching Tribute After the One Direction Star’s Untimely Death at 31
In the clip, a voiceover stated: “Remember, as a fan, it’s okay to grieve. It’s perfectly valid to love someone you’ve never met.
You’re entitled to admire someone for their artistry. You have the right to cry, to feel shattered, and to acknowledge that a piece of you feels lost.”
Justin Bieber has delivered a poignant tribute to Liam Payne, just five days after the tragic news of his passing at the age of 31.
Payne passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.
Liam and Justin had a competitive relationship that escalated into a full-blown feud when a YouTube video appeared to show Payne taking a jab at the Canadian singer.
However, despite their rocky start, Liam later shared how he and Bieber managed to connect and discovered they had much more in common than just their youthful charm and good looks.
In a segment from a 2022 podcast with YouTube star Logan Paul, which has resurfaced following his tragic passing, the One Direction member revealed that he had reached out to Bieber in an effort to resolve their feud. He hinted at the striking similarities between their early careers.
The British boy band sold over 70 million records worldwide, while Bieber has surpassed 150 million.
During his appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast, Impaulsive, Payne recounted how, while ‘drunk’ on Instagram, he made a comment about Justin Bieber after someone mentioned his name.
He recalled saying, “Well, the only thing between me and him is I haven’t been arrested,” clarifying that he never intended to offend Bieber. “It started some beef,” he added.
Payne noted how the online feud began to spill into real life, as both One Direction and Bieber shared a fanbase and often encountered each other at award shows.
The 31-year-old singer, who rose to prominence with the boyband in the 2010s, posted a poignant video showcasing floral tributes and heartfelt messages in memory of Liam, accompanied by the words: “Rest easy, Liam.”
Bieber and One Direction—seen here in 2014—were chart rivals during the 2010s, with Payne alongside his bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles.
Bieber and Payne (right) both rose to fame simultaneously and had a strikingly similar appearance.
Liam Payne is seen with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, before his tragic passing last Wednesday.
Payne was active on Snapchat just hours before his tragic fall last Wednesday.
However, he recalled one specific awards ceremony where both the band and Bieber were present, and Liam thought, “I’ll have a chat with him” to resolve their conflict.
Reflecting on Bieber at the time, Liam remarked, “He had grown as a person.” He recounted telling Bieber, “I’ve always felt for you… number one, I’ve done all the things that you’ve done, and I’ve never been caught for any of them… number two, I’ve always really felt for you, mate, and I think we all suffer from the same disease in our situation.”
Liam mentioned that he expressed to the Canadian singer how he could lean on his bandmates during tough times, while Bieber, as a solo artist, might not have had the same support system. Payne claimed Bieber responded, “Bro, that’s given me chills,” and from that moment, the pair became friends.
He added that after his own experiences, he wanted to help other young men and boys entering the entertainment industry cope with its overwhelming nature. In a 2017 interview with Rollacoaster magazine, Liam described Bieber as “a great guy” with “a really good heart.” He recounted a moment when he shared a meal with the Canadian singer, telling him, “Take my number, and anytime you want to chat, let me know. I’m here, and I understand exactly what you’re going through and your world.”
Reports indicate that when Liam fell to his death from his hotel balcony, traces of a combination of drugs, including “pink cocaine,” were found in his system. Argentine police and prosecutors investigating the tragedy are treating it as an “inconclusive death” as they continue to search for the drug dealer who supplied him that night.
A recent update on Monday revealed preliminary toxicology results from Payne’s remains showed traces of cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack cocaine, and “pink cocaine,” which is a mix of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA. Investigations are ongoing into the substances—white powder, chemical crystals, and prescription medications—found in his hotel suite.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that the singer died instantly from multiple injuries after falling 45 feet from the third floor. An improvised aluminum pipe, commonly used for smoking crack cocaine, was also discovered in his hotel room.
Argentine news website Infobae reported, “A forensic study of Liam’s body confirmed the presence of cocaine. A test conducted by the [Buenos Aires] City Police on the substance found on Liam’s room table did not confirm the white powder as cocaine, and a second test will follow to determine the drug’s nature.”
A report from news network ABC added that a partial autopsy found that the former One Direction singer, who died at 31, had multiple substances in his system when he fell from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16. These substances included “pink cocaine,” a recreational drug typically made up of several drugs, including methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA, as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack. An improvised aluminum pipe used for drug ingestion was also found in his hotel room.
As police continue to search for the drug dealer who supplied Mr. Payne, MailOnline reported that two hotel staff members are under investigation for allegedly providing the star with hard drugs in the days leading up to the tragedy. A cleaner and another staff member are said to have concealed the drugs in a Dove Soap box, which detectives discovered in Mr. Payne’s room after his death.
The singer tragically passed away at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
According to Argentine judicial sources, Mr. Payne’s body will not be released to his father, Geoff Payne, until all examinations have been completed. A funeral is anticipated to take place in Britain in November.
Liam began his journey to stardom by auditioning for X Factor in 2008. At just 14 years old, he impressed the judges with his rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra but was ultimately eliminated from the competition.
However, Payne decided to give his singing career another shot and auditioned again in 2010, quickly rising to fame as a member of One Direction. He and his former bandmates—Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson—were brought together by Simon Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger, who recognized their potential as a group.
After releasing five albums with one of the biggest boy bands of all time, Liam launched his solo career with his debut album, *LP1*, in 2019. His single “Strip That Down,” co-written with Ed Sheeran, reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.
Throughout his music career, the pop star collaborated with artists like J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.
The singer’s heartbroken father was seen kissing photos of his son at a makeshift shrine created by fans outside the hotel where the One Direction star passed away.
Liam was previously in a relationship with British pop sensation Cheryl Cole, and the couple welcomed their son, Bear Grey, on March 22, 2017, before splitting in 2018.
After his romance with the Girls Aloud singer, Liam had an on-and-off relationship with ex-fiancée Maya Henry, which ended in May 2022.