Zayn Malik paused amidst his Stairway to the Sky tour to honor his late friend, Liam Payne, in the singer's hometown of Wolverhampton, England. As he made his way through the English city, the musician took a moment to address the audience, reflecting on Payne, who tragically passed away on October 16th in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"Every night, at the conclusion of my show, I dedicate a special moment to my brother, Liam Payne. Rest in peace, Liam. As I perform here tonight in your hometown, Wolverhampton, this is for you," Malik emotionally shared in a fan-captured video from Friday's concert, just before performing "It's You."
Earlier in the week, during his Leeds show, Malik had already paid tribute to Payne by displaying the heartfelt message, "Liam Payne, 1993-2024. Love you bro," adorned with a heart symbol on stage.
Prior to embarking on his English performances, Malik had made the difficult decision to postpone the U.S. leg of his tour due to the profound loss of his friend and fellow former One Direction bandmate. "Following the heart-wrenching loss we've all experienced this week, I've decided to reschedule the U.S. leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour," he announced on his Instagram Story three days after Payne's passing. "The new dates will be in January, and I'll share them as soon as everything is confirmed in the coming days. Your tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled shows. Thank you for your understanding and love."
In a poignant post shared the day after Payne's death, Malik further honored his late friend, expressing the countless conversations they could have shared and his gratitude for Payne's unwavering support during some of the toughest times in his life.
"When I was homesick as a 17-year-old, you were always there with a positive outlook and a reassuring smile, reminding me that I had a friend who loved me. Even though you were younger, you were wiser, headstrong, opinionated, and never afraid to call someone out when they were wrong. Despite our occasional disagreements, I secretly admired you for it," he wrote.
Malik praised Payne's singing talents, asserting that he was the "most qualified" among the One Direction boys, humbly acknowledging his own inexperience in comparison. "I lost a brother when you left us, and I can't express how much I would give to hug you one last time, to say goodbye properly, and to tell you how much I loved and respected you. I will forever cherish our memories in my heart. Words cannot justify or explain my devastation. I hope you are at peace and know how deeply you were loved. Love you, bro," Malik concluded.
