Rita Ora Tearfully Honors Liam Payne at the MTV Europe Music Awards: 'One of the Kindest People'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rita Ora and Liam Payne.Photo:Getty(2)

rita ora liam payne

Getty(2)

Rita Orais honoringLiam Payneweeks afterhis death.

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

Liam Payne and Rita Ora attend the ESCADA x RITA ORA capsule launch event during Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2019 in Paris, France.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

“I think sometimes just simply speaking is enough,” she continued. “He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could. He brought so much joy to every room he walked into, and he left such a mark on this world. So, let’s just take a moment to remember our friend Liam.”

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Host Rita Ora performs on stage during the MTV EMAs 2024 held at Co-op Live on November 10, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Payne died on Oct. 16 after falling multiple stories from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed toPEOPLEat the time. He was 31.

Ora previously honored Payne just hours after news of his death broke while she performed at a concert in Osaka, Japan. During an emotional moment onstage, she sang “For You” — which appeared on the soundtrack ofFifty Shades Freed —and began to cry.

“I can’t even sing this right now,” she told the audience at one point, as a photo of Payne flashed on the screen behind her. “Can you sing this for me?”

One day later, Ora shared a heartfeltInstagrampost about their time together.

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

source: people.com