"I lost a brother:" Louis Tomlinson pays emotional tribute to One Direction bandmate Liam Payne

Louis Tomlinson has paid an emotional tribute to his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who he described as "the brother I’d longed all my life for".

Liam, 31, who found fame on The X Factor with the boy band, died after falling from a balcony on the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.

In a statement this evening, Liam's One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, said they were “completely devastated” by the news of his death.

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Louis, 32, has now taken to social media to pay his own tribute to Liam, who he said he "looked up to every day."

In a post on Instagram this evening, he wrote: "I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to every day, 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.

"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.

"A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. 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. 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."

One Direction was formed in 2010, with Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, after they individually auditioned for The X Factor.

After becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the world, with five albums and four world tours, they went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid, Familiar and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.

The song was one of two tracks that reached the top 10 in the UK official charts, alongside For You with Rita Ora from the film Fifty Shades Freed – which the duo performed at the Brit Awards in 2018.

Payne was in a high-profile relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl between 2016 and 2018, and the couple had a son, Bear, in 2017.