The former members of One Direction came together on Tuesday to bid farewell to their bandmate, Liam Payne, at his funeral. Payne, aged 31, tragically passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last month.
The funeral took place at St. Mary’s Church in Amersham, located 25 miles northwest of London. The somber occasion saw a horse-drawn carriage carrying Payne's dark blue casket adorned with white roses to the 800-year-old church for a private service.
To maintain privacy and prevent large crowds, the funeral location was not disclosed in advance. However, despite this, local residents and fans gathered nearby to pay their respects.
Payne's parents, Geoff and Karen, were visibly emotional as they stood beside the carriage, which was decorated with floral tributes reading “Son” and “Daddy.” The late singer leaves behind a 7-year-old son, Bear, from his relationship with Cheryl Tweedy.
Among the attendees were Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy, actor and presenter James Corden, former soccer player Robbie Keane, and music mogul Simon Cowell, who played a pivotal role in forming One Direction.
One Direction, formed in 2010 through the reality show “The X-Factor,” quickly rose to fame with their devoted fan base known as “Directioners.” Following their split in 2016, Payne pursued a solo career that did not reach the same heights as the band's success. He was candid about his struggles with mental health and alcohol abuse amidst the challenges of stardom.
Authorities in Argentina revealed that Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his fatal fall from the third-floor balcony of Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16. Three individuals have been charged in connection with his death, facing allegations of “abandonment of a person followed by death” and “supplying and facilitating the use of narcotics.”
