Zayn Malik honors Liam Payne during a concert in Wolverhampton, hometown of the former One Direction member: ‘I wish Liam could witness this special moment’.

Zayn Malik honored his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne during a concert in Wolverhampton. He expressed his wish that Liam, who has passed away, could witness his performance.

During the kickoff of his Stairway To The Sky tour in Leeds, Zayn displayed a message on a blue screen on stage, paying tribute to Liam Payne with the words ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro’ alongside a pink heart.

However, he has not appeared to directly speak about Payne, who died aged 31 in Argentina last month, during the tour. 

Social media recordings show Zayn addressing the audience at The Halls venue at the University of Wolverhampton, where he revealed that every night at the end of his show, he dedicates a moment to his “brother” Liam Payne, honoring his memory.

‘I hope you’re seeing this, we’re in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you, Liam.’ 

Malik rescheduled his tour’s original opening dates in Edinburgh due to Payne’s funeral, which was also attended by his fellow One Direction stars Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. 

Payne died on October 16 of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires 

He left One Direction in 2015 before the group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, with the members all going on to pursue their own solo careers. 

Following the death of Payne, Malik said he ‘never got to thank’ his fellow bandmate for supporting him through some of the ‘most difficult’ times in his life. 

‘I 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’, he added in a statement shared to Instagram.

 ‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. ‘There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. 

‘I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you, bro.’ 

Payne previously postponed the US leg of his Stairway To The Sky tour over the ‘heartbreaking loss’ of Payne.

An investigation has been launched into Payne’s death by Argentinian prosecutors and three people have been charged in connection with the incident. 

Earlier his week Zayn paid another tribute Liam as he wore one of the star’s diamond chain necklaces for his first sold out show in London on Tuesday.

The singer was previously seen wearing the jewellery at the star’s funeral last week and continued to keep the star in his thoughts during the tour. 

Zayn looked back at home on the stage at the Eventim Apollo as he thanked fans for being patient with him, He admitted: ‘Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here.’

Greeting the crowd on Tuesday, Zayn exclaimed: ‘Yooooo! What’s happening! What’s going on London. 

‘It f****g feels amazing to be here not going to lie. Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here so tonight I want you guys to have an amazing night, really enjoy yourself, sing along, scream. 

If people have told you to be quiet online pay them no mind at all we are here tonight we are having a good time. 

‘Have a drink, have a laugh let’s enjoy ourselves yeah.’

Embarking on his Stairway To The Sky tour, the dates come after Zayn postponed the first two dates of the tour in the wake of Liam’s tragic death.

The show ended with a backdrop which read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro,’ and a red heart. 

Later in the set Zayn asked the crowd to be mindful of other people in attendance as fans at the front were getting squished by those in the back.

He said: ‘If you’re at the back try not to push because people at the front are getting a little bit squished. 

‘We’re all here to have a good time, I’m not going anywhere.  Just try not to hurt anybody. Let’s have a good time tonight.’

Liam died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina, with his One Direction bandmates seen in public together for the first time in nine years as they paid their respects at his funeral on Wednesday. 

Former bandmates Harry Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Louis Tomlinson, 32, and Zayn arrived separately at the church for a poignant final send off.

Harry dressed in black, pulled up to the funeral in a BMW, while Niall attended with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, with Zayn Malik arriving shortly after Louis.