Watch: Zayn Malik’s emotional tribute to ‘brother’ Liam Payne

Zayn Malik paid tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who passed away in October, during his concert in Wolverhampton on Friday. The singer expressed his hope that Payne was watching the show, which was held in Payne’s hometown.
Malik had previously honoured Payne at the start of his Stairway To The Sky Tour in Leeds, displaying the message “Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro” on the screen.
Despite paying tribute during his performances, Malik has not publicly spoken about Payne’s death. During the Wolverhampton concert, he addressed the audience, referring to Payne as his “brother” and dedicating the song ‘It’s You’ to him.
Several videos have been going viral on social media. Malik can be heard saying, “I’ve been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace.” The 31-year-old singer added, “I hope you’re seeing this, we’re in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you, Liam.”
Malik had postponed his tour in Edinburgh to attend Payne’s funeral, which was also attended by former band members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
Payne tragically died from internal and external haemorrhage after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Malik expressed regret for not having the chance to thank Payne for his support during challenging times in his life, as reported by the Daily Mail. Fans reacted emotionally on social media, with many expressing disbelief and sadness over Payne’s passing.