Zayn Malik “hoped” Liam Payne was watching over him as he performed in his late former bandmate’s hometown.
Zayn Malik paid tribute to Liam Payne
The 31-year-old singer took his ‘Stairway to the Sky’ tour to The Halls venue at the University of Wolverhampton on Friday (29.11.24) night, and the ‘Pillowtalk’ hitmaker took the time to pay tribute to his One Direction “brother” – who died last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina – during the show.
Towards the end of his gigs, Zayn has been performing in front of a digital screen message which features a pink heart and the words: “Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro’ with a pink heart.”
And Friday marked the first time Zayn has spoken directly about Liam during the shows.
In footage shared by fans to social media, he said: “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.
“I hope you’re seeing this, we’re in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you, Liam.”
Zayn – who quit One Direction in March 2015 during their world tour – reunited with his former bandmates earlier this month at Liam’s funeral.
The ‘Strip That Down’ hitmaker was laid to rest at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, south east England, and Zayn, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson were all in attendance to pay their respects, along with their former mentor Simon Cowell, close friend James Corden, and Liam’s former partner Cheryl.
In the wake of Liam’s death, Zayn paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend.
He wrote on Instagram: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.
“When I was missing home as a 17 year old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.
“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated and gave no f**** about telling people when they were wrong.
“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.
“When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense.
“I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.
“I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next. (sic)”