Shocking: Harry Styles Devastated by Liam Payne’s Death, “Will Always Miss My Lovely Friend”

Harry Styles and Liam Payne were once bandmates in One Direction before each pursued individual music careers.

Harry Styles has publicly expressed his sorrow following the unfortunate demise of his former One Direction colleague Liam Payne, who passed away in Argentina on October 16.

“Liam’s death has deeply saddened me,” Styles, 30, shared on Instagram on Thursday, October 17. “Bringing joy to others was what he loved most, and it was a privilege to witness him spread that joy.”

Styles continued, “Liam embraced life fully, wore his heart on his sleeve, and his zest for life was contagious. He was kind, supportive, and incredibly loving. The time we spent together are some of the most precious memories I hold. I will forever miss him, my wonderful friend.”

The artist behind “As It Was” concluded his message by sending his condolences to Payne’s relatives, stating: “My heart aches for Karen, Geoff, Nicola, and Ruth, his son Bear, and everyone else around the world who loved him as much as I did.”

Related: Hotel Guest Reports Hearing ‘Loud, Violent Scream’ Before Liam Payne’s Death (Exclusive)

Liam Payne, 31, tragically died after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, as confirmed by Policía Federal Argentina to PEOPLE.

A preliminary autopsy report revealed that Payne succumbed to multiple injuries and “internal and external” hemorrhages, details provided by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office to PEOPLE.

The medical examiners noted that 25 injuries found during the autopsy were “consistent with those from a high fall,” and emphasized that “the injuries to the head were enough to be fatal,” along with “internal and external hemorrhages” in the skull, chest, abdomen, and limbs contributing to Payne’s death.

Just hours before Styles posted his heartfelt tribute on Instagram, he, along with former bandmates Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, issued a collective statement expressing their grief.

“We are utterly heartbroken over Liam’s death,” the statement read. “In due time, we will share more, but for now, we need to mourn and process our profound loss. Liam was dearly loved by us all.”

The statement concluded: “We will forever cherish the memories we made with him. Currently, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who adored him just as we did. We are devastated. We love you, Liam.”

Related: Louis Tomlinson Expresses Grief Over Liam Payne’s Passing: ‘Wish We Could Have Shared the Stage Once More’

One Direction was created on the UK reality show The X-Factor in 2010, when the judges combined solo contestants Payne, Styles, Malik, Horan, and Tomlinson into one group. Despite not winning the competition, they rose to become one of the top-selling boy bands of all time.

The band released five albums before taking an indefinite break in 2016, just a year after Malik’s departure. All members have since embarked on solo careers, with Payne achieving a notable hit in 2017 with “Strip That Down.” Earlier in 2024, Payne also released “Teardrops,” marking his first new single in three years.

Styles has also seen significant success in his solo career, securing three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for “Harry’s House.”

Although Payne has had mixed feelings about his time with One Direction, he expressed in 2018 that he still enjoyed performing their songs, saying, “I’ll never forget my roots. That’s why I love performing the 1D songs when I’m touring. It feels quite nostalgic.”