Former One Direction member Zayn Malik announced that he would be postponing his tour in the wake of Liam Payne’s death.
Malik shared a statement to his Instagram Story on October 19, just days after Payne was found dead in Argentina. He was 31.
“Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I've made the decision to postpone the US leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour,” Malik wrote.
He also said that tour dates would be rescheduled for January and that tickets would be valid for those future dates.
“Love you all and thank you for your understanding,” Malik added.
Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to People that the former One Direction member was pronounced dead after an incident at a hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Local police have confirmed that they are actively investigating Payne’s death as both an accident and potential suicide.
Zayn Malik shared a tribute to his former bandmate following the news of Payne’s passing via Instagram. Malik first shared a photo of the two from their former One Direction days, along with a heartfelt tribute on the next slide.
“I can't help but think selfishly that there was [sic] so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” he wrote. “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 that you were my friend and that was loved.”
Malik and Payne were bandmates from 2010 until 2015 when Malik left One Direction to pursue a solo career. The two rose to global fame alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
