Shawn Mendes Pauses Concert To Honor Liam Payne: “The World Is Crying For You, Brother”
Following Liam Payne‘s death at age 31 this week, loved ones in the music industry are continuing to pay tribute online and onstage.
On Friday, Shawn Mendes halted his For Friends and Family Only concert in Brooklyn to honor the late One Direction member with some heartfelt words and perform a song in his memory.
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“When I heard the news about Liam, I felt completely devastated,” said Mendes in a video from the show. “I got to meet Liam a couple times, and he was a beautiful soul. His eyes gleamed, there was beauty shining through his eyes.”
He continued, “It’s about grieving those we miss with tears, and it’s also about celebrating them, who they were and what they’ve left in this world. I just want to take a second to send so much love to him, wherever he is up there. We love you, and the world is crying for you, brother. And we’re all praying for your son and your family. We miss you, man.”
“So, this one’s for you tonight, Liam, from all of us,” said Mendes before performing his new song ‘Heart of Gold’ from his upcoming fifth studio album Shawn, dropping Nov. 15.
Payne died at age 31 on Wednesday when he fell from the third-floor balcony of his Buenos Aires, Argentina hotel room. According to a preliminary autopsy report, his cause of death was ruled “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage.”
La Nación reported that Hotel Casa Sur staff called police before the incident to report “an aggressive man that could’ve been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
Born Aug. 29, 1993 in Wolverhampton, England, Payne competed on The X Factor in 2010, when he formed One Direction with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. The group released five albums and became a global sensation, winning seven Brit Awards and selling more than 70 million albums worldwide.
After One Direction went their separate ways, Payne released his lone solo album LP1 in 2019.
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