Washington: During his 'Stairway to the Sky' tour stop in Wolverhampton, England, Liam Payne's hometown, Zayn Malik dedicated a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and former One Direction bandmate. Before performing his emotional track "iT's YoU," Zayn addressed the crowd, saying, "This is for you, Liam," honoring his memory following Payne's tragic passing on October 16 in Buenos Aires.

A heartfelt message in Leeds

Earlier in the week, during a performance in Leeds, Malik shared a powerful message for Liam, displaying the words "Liam Payne, 1993-2024. Love you bro," along with a heart symbol on stage.

The emotional tribute reflects the deep bond the two shared as members of One Direction.

Postponing the US tour dates

In the wake of Payne’s passing, Zayn Malik made the difficult decision to postpone the US leg of his tour. He took to Instagram to inform his fans, stating, "Given the heartbreaking loss, I've made the decision to postpone the US leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour."

The rescheduled dates are set for January, and tickets will remain valid for the new shows.

Reflecting on a brother’s loss

A day after Liam's death, Malik shared a heartfelt message on social media, recalling their memories together.

"When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid, you were always there," Zayn wrote.

He described Liam as the "most qualified" member of One Direction and expressed deep sorrow for not having more time to say goodbye.

"I lost a brother when you left us," he added.

Tragic circumstances surrounding Liam's death

Liam Payne tragically passed away on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires. Investigations revealed he had been under the influence of narcotics at the time of the fall.

The incident led to the arrests of a hotel staff member and an alleged drug dealer, according to local reports.

ANI