Harry Styles’ Mom Posts Moving 3-Word Tribute to Liam Payne After His Death at 31: ‘Just a Boy’

Mar. 15, 2025

Harry Styles' mom is paying tribute toLiam Paynefollowing the formerOne Directionstar’s death at 31.

“Just a boy … 💔,” she wrote onInstagramalongside a photo of a broken heart emoji in front of a black background after the singer waspronounced deadafter falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to PEOPLE.

Twist spent a lot of time withPayne through the yearsafter her son Styles shot to fame with him onThe X-FactorU.K. in 2010.

MultipleX-Factorstars alsopaid tributeto Payne on social media, with host Dermot O’Leary sharing a black and white photo from their time on the show onInstagram, alongside the caption: “The worst news. I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition onThe X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.”

Harry Styles with his mother Anne Twist (left); Liam Payne (right).Richard Young/Shutterstock; Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Richard Young/Shutterstock; Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Lou Teasdale — who was the band’s hairstylist, makeup artist and close friend through the years — shared a simpleInstagram Storiesmessage that read, “I hope you’re all ok,” alongside a broken heart emoji.

She then shareda clipof the band performing their 2015 track “Infinity” — which was one of the final songs they released on their last albumMade in the A.M.before they took a hiatus in 2016 followingMalik’s departure from the bandthe year prior — with the caption, “Forever” and a white love heart emoji.

Olly Murs, who starred onThe X-Factorthe year before the band, posted a photo of himself laughing with Payne onInstagram.

“This news is devastating, am lost for words 😣 we always had a good laugh when we saw each other, sometimes the catch ups were only short and sweet but when we did it was mostly about how annoyingly good his hair always looked, or our love for Becks, the oldXFdays and the tour we shared together,” he captioned the post.

“Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his Family and of course his son Bear losing a dad x am thinking of them! RIP Liam 🙏🏻😣,” he added, referencing Payne’s 7-year-old sonBear Grey, whom he shares with his ex, Girls Aloud singerCheryl.

Liam Payne and Harry Styles on GMA in 2015.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

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During his time in One Direction, Payne co-wrote many hits including “Midnight Memories,” “No Control,” “Steal My Girl” and “Night Changes.”

After the band went on hiatus, Payne kickstarted his career as a solo singer-rapper in 2017 with hit track “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo, which has over 1 billion streams on Spotify.

He then released his first solo EP,First Time, in 2018, and his first and only studio album,LP1, the following year.

source: people.com