Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend Aliana Mawla has reacted to the singer’s death at 31.
“I’m sorry this happened to you,” Mawla, 26, wrote via Instagram Story on Thursday, October 17, sharing a throwback photo of Payne backstage at a concert. “Will forever love and miss you.”
In a follow-up tribute, Mawla uploaded a photo of the pair holding hands with the caption, “Rest in paradise.”
Us Weekly confirmed that Payne, who briefly dated Mawla in 2022, fell to his death on Wednesday, October 16, from a third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires, Argentina hotel. Payne sustained a cranial fracture and other serious injuries that were too severe for emergency treatment and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said in a statement, per local outlet La Nacion. “Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”
A preliminary autopsy report viewed by Us revealed that Payne died from “multiple injuries involving ‘internal and external hemorrhage,’” and was believed to be in a “state of semi or total unconsciousness” at the time of the fall.
Payne is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen, as well as older sisters Ruth and Nicola.
“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” his family told the BBC in a Thursday statement. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
The former One Direction singer is also survived by 7-year-old son Bear, whom he shared with ex Cheryl Cole.
Payne and Cole, 41, split in 2018, shortly before he moved on with ex-fiancée Maya Henry. Payne and Henry, 23, had an on-off relationship, calling it quits for good in 2022. Months after their breakup, Payne started seeing Mawla.
Mawla previously confirmed to Us that they started dating after Payne called off his engagement, denying claims of infidelity.
“Aliana is very taken back by the accusations that have been made regarding a relationship with Liam while he was still engaged or involved with his ex-fiancée,” a representative for Mawla told Us in June 2022. “Under no circumstances would Aliana have involved herself in a public relationship as such if there was any truth to the comments that have been made. She is very happy and does not wish to discuss this situation moving forward.”
It is not known when Payne and Mawla split, but he entered into a relationship with Kate Cassidy later that year. They were together until the “Strip That Down” musician’s sudden death in October.
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