One Direction & Family Members Pay Tribute to Liam Payne

As celebrities and friends shared heartfelt tributes to Liam Payne, One Direction and family members have begun to share their own heartbreaking words about the sudden loss of their family member, friend and colleague. The former One Direction singer turned solo artist, fell from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in what TMZ is now reporting was an "apparent suicide." The 31-year-old's family issued a statement following his death to the BBC: "We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. "We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time." Payne's One Direction bandmates Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan shared a emotional joint statement on Thursday. "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say," read the statement, which was posted on social media. "But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry." Tomlinson also posted his own tribute, sharing a heartbreaking statement on Instagram. "I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul. I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for." "Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band," he continued. "And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam." Tomlinson then shared a "message" for Payne. "I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye," he wrote. "I'm so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I'd have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn't to be." "I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was," he continued, before concluding, "I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X." Malik also took to his personal account to share a photo of the friends asleep on each other in a car. "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," he begun. "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." Malik went on to recall how Payne was "always more sensible than" him referring to Payne as "headstrong" and how they "butted heads," but Malik admitted he "secretly respected" Payne for it. "When it came to 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." Malik concluded the sentiment by adding that he "lost a brother when you left us and can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly." Meanwhile, other members of the One Direction world also reacted to the news of Payne's passing. Styles' mother, Anne Twist, posted to her Instagram account with a enlarged heartbroken emoji alongside the words, "Just a boy..." Members of her 2.5 million followers shared similar words under the post: "I am in total shock." Malik's younger sister Waliyha has shared a heartfelt tribute to Payne, writing that she is "heartbroken" over his death. The 26-year-old shared several photos of Payne with Malik to her Instagram Stories on Thursday. "Literally heartbroken. RIP. I have no words. She also shared a c