Former One Direction members among mourners at Liam Payne's private funeral
On Wednesday, mourners gathered for the private funeral of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who died on October 16 in Argentina at the age of 31.
Zayn Malik arrives for the funeral service of former bandmate Liam Payne.
Harry Styles arrives at Liam Payne's funeral on November 20.
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Fellow bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan attended the service, which was conducted at an unknown site in London, as did the late singer's family and close friends. Malik chose to delay dates on his U.K. tour, which was scheduled to begin this week, in order to attend the service. Simon Cowell, who established and signed the band on X Factor in 2010, and broadcaster James Corden were also there.
Payne died last month after falling from a third-floor balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, suffering internal and external bleeding as well as severe traumatic injuries.
The tragedy stunned the music industry and beyond, with the four band members banding together to pay respect to Payne on social media in the days after his death. "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing," Styles, Tomlinson, Malik, and Horan said on One Direction's Instagram. "We will need some time to grieve and comprehend the death of our beloved brother. The memories we made with him will be remembered forever. For the time being, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the fans who adored him just like we did. We'll miss him horribly. "We love you, Liam." The four also used their separate social media profiles to express individualized condolences.
Liam's family issued a brief statement following his passing, saying, "We are heartbroken." Liam will always remain in our hearts, and we will remember him for his kind, witty, and fearless spirit."
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One Direction formed on the UK X-Factor in 2010 and finished third in the competition. They went on to become one of the most successful boy bands of all time, with hits including "What Makes You Beautiful," "Story of My Life," "Little Things," and "Steal My Girl." One Direction has released five albums: Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014), and Made in the A.M. (2015).
The star's solo career included chart-topping singles "Strip That Down" and "Bedroom Floor." He and former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole have a kid named Bear. Kate Cassidy, his lover at the time of his death, also attended the burial on Wednesday.
The death of Payne, who was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the tragic fall, has resulted in the arrest of a hotel employee and an accused local drug dealer. They were arrested, according to local news site La Nacion, and investigators got access to an Argentine businessman's residence as part of the inquiry.
