Photo: Getty Images
As the world mourns the loss of Liam Payne following his tragic death at the age of 31, tributes continue to pour out from fans, friends and family as well as other artists who have either worked with Payne in the past or who have met him. Rita Ora gave an tearful performance of their duet hours after his death while Halsey penned an emotional letter mourning his loss as a "massive fan" and peer.
During a concert in New York City on Friday (October 18), Shawn Mendes dedicated one of his new songs to the former One Direction member, taking a moment on stage to remember his "beautiful soul," per People. Payne passed away on Wednesday (October 16) after falling multiple stories from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"We heard the news about Liam," Mendes said. "It felt like... It felt completely devastating. I got to meet him a couple times, and he was a beautiful soul and his eyes gleamed — it was beauty, shining into his eyes."
Before performing his song "Heart of Gold," from his upcoming self-titled album, Mendes said he was sending "so much love" to Payne while grieving his loss and celebrating "what [he] left in this world."
"It's about grieving those we miss with tears and it's also about celebrating them and who they were and what they left in this world and I just want to take a second to send so much love to him, wherever he is up there," he said. "Liam, we love you. The world is crying for you, brother, and we're all praying for your son and your family. I miss you. This one's for you tonight, Liam, from all of us."
In addition to his peers from the music industry, Payne was also memorialized by his fellow One Direction alums in emotional tributes from Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Niall Horan. Tomlinson shared a lengthy message mourning a brother and best friend, ZAYN shared an emotional letter to the late singer, Styles said his "heart breaks" with the loss of his "lovely friend," and Horan said "it just doesn't feel real" that his "amazing friend" is gone.
Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son Bear, his parents Karen and Geoff, and his sisters Nicola and Ruth.