Rita Ora Breaks Down While Performing Liam Payne Duet Hours After His Death: 'Can't Even Sing This Right Now'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rita Orais looking back on her time withLiam Payne.

Hours after the former One Direction member’sdeath at age 31 on Oct. 16, Ora performed a concert in Osaka, Japan, and emotionally broke down as she performed their 2018 duet “For You” fromFifty Shades Freed.

“I can’t even sing this right now,” she told the audience at one point. “Can you sing this for me?”

The following day, Ora took to social media with a heartfelt post about their time together.

“I’m devastated,” wrote Ora, 33, alongside photos of herself and Payne in the studio and promoting their collaboration. “He had the kindest soul, I will never forget.”

The “Ask and You Shall Receive” singer added, “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.”

Liam Payne and Rita Ora in September 2019.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

Released alongside the thirdFifty Shadesfilm in 2018,“For You” became a massive hit for both Ora and Payne, charting at No. 8 in their native U.K. as well as No. 76 in the U.S. The song also appeared on both Ora and Payne’s respective albums,PhoenixandLP1.

Payne was pronounced dead on Oct. 16 after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to PEOPLE.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death, local police told PEOPLE, and an autopsy will be conducted.

In a statement translated from Spanish, Alberto Crescenti (the head of SAME, Buenos Aires' public emergency medical services system) told TN that Payne fell into the hotel’s internal courtyard.

A SAME team arrived at the hotel and verified the death of the man, later identified as Payne, around 5:11 p.m. local time, Crescenti said, noting the musician’s injuries were so severe there “was no possibility of resuscitation.”

After the “Strip That Down” singer’s death, his “Get Low” collaborator Zedd took toX (formerly Twitter)and wrote, “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking ..”

source: people.com