Rita Ora was overcome with emotion as she performed a song she recorded with Liam Payne, just hours after the news of his death.
The 31-year-old One Direction star died after he fatally fell from a third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires on Wednesday evening.
Ora, a close friend of Payne’s, took the stage in Osaka, Japan hust a few hours later and struggled to finish their 2018 duet For You, which they recorded for the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack.
As a picture of her and Payne was projected on the big screen behind her, the Praise You singer, 33, fought back tears through the emotional performance of their duet.
Ora is seen holding her head in her hands, turning away from the audience, and looking up at the sky before telling the crowd: "I can't even sing this right now."
Payne’s For You was one of his two solo tracks to break into the top 10 of the UK charts.
For You (With Rita Ora)
— 肉 Jason 24 (@nikuniku2424241) October 17, 2024
リアム・ペイン，リタ・オラ
先程終わった大阪公演 の映像を拾う。
悲しみの中ほとんど歌えなかったみたい。@RitaOra @LiamPayne @liampaynejp
本日の大阪公演 #リタオラ はこの曲を歌えるのか？ 追悼の言葉とか思い出話はあるのか？ #RITAORA #ritaora pic.twitter.com/b58a71caYu
The British singer was a long-time friend of Ora’s and in 2021 it was reported that he even moved into Ora's £3.25m penthouse in west London with his ex-fiancée Maya Henry for a time.
Taking to social media following her performance, Ora: “I’m devastated. He had the kindest soul, I will never forget.
“I loved working with him so much - he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage. This tragic news breaks my heart.
“Sending all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Our song For You takes on a whole new meaning for me now. R.I.P”.
Payne died aged 31 after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
He plunged from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood resulting in "extremely serious injuries", according to authorities.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances around his death are still being investigated.
