Fans Express Concern for ‘One Direction’ Star as ‘Best Friend’ Liam Payne Is Laid to Rest — Photos

The intimate service at St. Mary’s Church gathered family and friends to honor the 31-year-old singer.

Questions swirled as fans examined photos from Payne’s funeral, wondering if his close friend and former bandmate Louis Tomlinson had attended.

Their questions were answered when Tomlinson’s presence stood out among the mourners, a poignant symbol of the grief shared by Payne’s closest circle.

Dressed in a black suit and tie with sunglasses, his slightly messy hair gave him a somber appearance.

Fans quickly flooded social media with messages of concern, one writing, “Louis is broken inside out. He lost so many of his love ones 😭💔. Liam we miss you 🕊️ [sic].”

Another commented, “That photo destroyed me. You can really see the toll everything has taken on Louis and I desperately wish we could go back in time and stop him from experiencing so much loss in the last decade.”

One fan implored, “Protect Louis please, he needs it so much..💔,” while another remarked, “The pictures of Louis have me devastated.”

A supporter described Tomlinson as Payne’s “best friend” while noting his heartfelt presence at the funeral.

Another noted Tomlinson’s visibly distressed demeanor, interpreting it as a reflection of the emotional toll the loss has taken on him.

Some remarked on his physical state, suggesting he appeared exhausted and possibly sleep-deprived, further underscoring the strain he has endured.

A long-time admirer reflected on Tomlinson’s early charm from One Direction’s video diaries, expressing sorrow over his deeply pained appearance at the funeral saying, “he looks absolutely gutted.”

Several celebrities joined Tomlinson at the late musician’s funeral, including Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.

Former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Niall Horan also came together to honor Payne.

Zayn Malik, another ex-band member, also attended the funeral to pay his respects.

The service also saw the presence of Cheryl, Payne’s former partner and the mother of his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey.

Payne’s close friend James Corden attended the funeral, along with Simon Cowell, who helped launch Payne’s career on “The X Factor,” and Cowell’s fiancé, Lauren Silverman.

Payne’s funeral service came after his death on October 16, when he tragically fell from a hotel in Argentina.

The day after Payne’s death, Tomlinson posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, reflecting on their bond and Payne’s contributions to One Direction.

Tomlinson described Payne as “a brother,” praising his kindness, humor, and extraordinary talent.

He recalled meeting Payne when they were teenagers, expressing admiration for his voice and leadership within the group.

“And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction,” Tomlinson shared, highlighting Payne’s perfect pitch, stage presence, and songwriting abilities.

Beyond their professional relationship, Tomlinson reflected on the closeness they shared in recent years and how “lucky” he was to have had him in his life.

He spoke of long phone conversations filled with cherished memories and expressed gratitude for their friendship.

“I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be,” he added.

Tomlinson also vowed to be there for Payne’s son, Bear, promising to share stories of his father’s remarkable life.

He closed his tribute with a final message to Payne, “I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”

As loved ones gathered at Payne’s funeral to honor his memory, authorities revealed that three individuals had been charged in connection with his death.

Prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office recently announced that the investigation into Payne’s death led to charges “with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.”

The first suspect, who accompanied Payne during his stay in Buenos Aires, faces charges of “abandonment of a person followed by death,” which could result in up to 15 years in prison.

A second suspect, a hotel employee, allegedly supplied Payne with cocaine on two occasions, while a third individual reportedly provided drugs to Payne twice on October 14, two days before his death.

The prosecutor charged both the second and third suspects “with the crime of supplying narcotics.”

Before filing charges, investigators conducted searches, reviewed surveillance footage, and interviewed hotel staff, acquaintances, and medical professionals over two weeks.

They also examined Payne’s phone for calls, messages, and social media activity.

Authorities later reported that his injuries were consistent with a fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel, with no signs of third-party involvement.

Further, toxicology tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system from the days before his death.

During the authorities’ probe into the case, the artist’s father, Geoff Payne, traveled to Buenos Aires to reclaim his son’s body.

According to a report by the BBC, authorities released Payne’s body to his family on November 6.

Payne’s family, who described themselves as “heartbroken,” released a statement, “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

Cassidy, Payne’s girlfriend said they had been planning to marry within the year.

The prosecutor charged three individuals in connection with Payne’s death after medical professionals revealed his cause of death.

Payne died instantly after his fall due to multiple injuries, including a fractured skull.

Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti stated that his team arrived at the scene as quickly as possible to provide medical attention and attempt resuscitation, but they were unable to revive him due to the severity of his injuries.

“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death,” Crescenti explained.

More information emerged involving the musician’s death, including details of a distressing 911 call from a panicked hotel staff.

According to the report received by Argentinian police, a man at the hotel was behaving aggressively and was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The hotel’s head of reception made two calls; the first one reported was about a guest causing significant damage to one of their rooms.

After the first call disconnected, the police received another one.

In a second call, the reception head urged, “We need to send someone with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger because he is in a room with balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life.”

Celebrities, including Charlie Puth and Paris Hilton, mourned Payne’s death with heartfelt social media posts, expressing shock, heartbreak, and condolences to his loved ones.

Numerous distressed fans gathered at the hotel, many in tears as they lit candles and placed mementos at a makeshift shrine.

Some grieved and sang the One Direction ballad, “If I Could Fly,” with the poignant line, “If I could fly, I’d be coming right back home to you.”

Handwritten messages in Spanish and English were attached to a tree outside the hotel, where fans also left candles and flowers.

In light of recent developments in Liam Payne‘s case, Argentinian authorities expect the three suspects to face court proceedings soon and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.