The four surviving former members of One Direction released a joint statement in the wake of their former bandmate, Liam Payne’s sudden passing.
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“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik said in a joint statement released Thursday afternoon.
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Payne, 31, died on Wednesday after falling three stories from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His death shocked fans around the world.
“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,” the former bandmembers’ statement read. “But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother who we loved dearly.”
One Direction was formed on the British singing competition, “The X Factor” in 2010. They announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Malik had left the band before that in 2015.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” the statement read.
The former band members extended their thoughts to Payne’s family, friends, and fans before saying, “We love you Liam.”
Payne’s death is being investigated as a “doubtful death” but prosecutors office said that it appears that he was alone when he fell and that he was going through a breakdown due to substance abuse, according to a translated report from the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14 in Buenos Ares.
An autopsy showed Payne died from “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” from the fall from the third-floor balcony. There were 25 injuries that correspond from falling from that height including injuries to his head, thorax, abdomen and limbs, according to the report .
There were no defensive injuries found.
“Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen into a state of semi- or total unconsciousness,” prosecutors said.
More tests, including toxicological tests, were requested to know what was in his system when he died.
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: (L-R) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of X-Factor band One Direction attend the Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 World film premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on November 11, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Liam Payne attends the Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 30, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: (L-R) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zane Malik and Niall Horan of 'One Direction' attend a photocall during the X Factor press conference at the Connaught Hotel on December 9, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: Singer Liam Payne of One Direction performs at Radio City Music Hall on March 9, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Liam Payne, of musical group One Direction, performs at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards, March 31, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Through the years SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Harry Styles (L) and Liam Payne (R) of One Direction perform live on stage during the Matinee performance at Hordern Pavilion on April 13, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - One Direction's Zayn Malik, from left, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles pictured during an interview on Capital Breakfast with Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon, in their studios in Leicester Square, in London, on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (Yui Mok/PA via AP, File) (Yui Mok/AP)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Louis Tomlinson, from left, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arrive for the World Premiere of "One Direction: This Is Us," at the Empire Leicester Square, in London, Aug. 20, 2013. (Ian West/PA via AP, File) (Ian West/AP)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - One Direction's Liam Payne, from left, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles pose backstage at the Capital FM Summertime Ball held at Wembley Stadium, in London, on June 6, 2015. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP, File) (Dominic Lipinski/AP)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Liam Payne of One Direction performs during the Honda Civic Tour at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday, July 9, 2015, in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File) (Rich Fury/Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - One Direction members, from right, Liam Payne and Harry Styles perform on ABC's "Good Morning America" at Rumsey Playfield/SummerStage on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) (Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Liam Payne of One Direction (1D) performs in concert at MetLife stadium Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Photo by Robert Altman/Invision/AP, File) (Robert Altman/Robert Altman/Invision/AP)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - One Direction's Niall Horan, from left, Harry Styles , Simon Cowell, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne present the Music Industry Trust Award to Simon Cowell at the Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) in aid of charities Nordon Robbins and Brit Trust at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London, Nov. 2, 2015. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP) (Dominic Lipinski/AP)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson from One Direction with their British Artist Video of the Year award at the BRIT Awards 2016 at The O2 Arena on February 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Luca Teuchmann/Getty Images) (Luca V. Teuchmann/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Singer Liam Payne attends the World Premiere of "I Am Bolt" at Odeon Leicester Square on November 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Liam Payne performs during the first day of BBC Radio 1's Biggest Weekend at Singleton Park, in Swansea, Wales, May 26, 2018. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP, File) (Ben Birchall/AP)
Through the years CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Recording Artist Liam Payne performs during Nickelodeon SlimeFest at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon) (Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
Through the years SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 13: Liam Payne performs during the TAB Everest Race Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse on October 13, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for The ATC) (Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for The ATC)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Liam Payne performs onstage during day one of Capital's Jingle Bell Ball with Coca-Cola at London's O2 Arena, on Dec. 8, 2018. (Ian West/PA via AP, File) (Ian West/AP)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 06: Liam Payne performs during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena on March 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (John Phillips/Getty Images)
Obit Liam Payne FILE - Singer Liam Payne poses for photographers upon arrival at the Global Gift Gala in London, March 7, 2019. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File) (Joel C Ryan/Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Argentina Liam Payne Obit FILE - Liam Payne poses for photographers upon arrival at the British Fashion Awards in London, Dec. 5, 2022. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File) (Vianney Le Caer/Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Through the years DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 21: Liam Payne attends the Grand Reveal Weekend for Atlantis The Royal, Dubai's new ultra-luxury hotel on January 21, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal) (Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Atlantis The Ro)
Through the years DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 21: Liam Payne attends the Grand Reveal Weekend for Atlantis The Royal, Dubai's new ultra-luxury hotel on January 21, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal) (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Atlantis The Ro)
Liam Payne FILE PHOTO: Liam Payne arrives at the "All Of Those Voices" UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images) (Kate Green/Kate Green/Getty Images)
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