Cheryl, members of One Direction and Simon Cowell were among those in attendance at Liam Payne’s funeral today (November 20), just over a month after the singer died, aged 31.
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The private service took place in the town of Amersham in Buckinghamshire, just north-west of London, near the village of Chalfont St Giles where Payne lived.
Cheryl, who shares seven-year-old son Bear with Payne, was alongside the star’s former One Direction bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, while Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy was present too, alongside Payne’s family.
Also among the mourners were Simon Cowell, One Direction’s former label boss who played a role in putting them together on The X Factor in 2010, and his fiancée Lauren Silverman, Cheryl’s Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, Adrian Chiles, James Corden, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, and Scott Mills.
Payne’s coffin arrived at St Mary’s Church on a white horse-drawn hearse featuring floral tributes spelling the words ‘son’ and ‘daddy,’ with other floral tributes including one in the shape of bowling pins and a ball, a reference to one of Payne’s favourite activities. Following the service, four pallbearers carried the coffin from the church, followed by Payne’s parents and Cheryl.
While a small grouping of locals gathered outside the church, fans generally stayed away from the ceremony.
Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with an autopsy confirming that the singer had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries.
In a statement following his death, his family said: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” while Cheryl, his former bandmates, and other famous faces shared tributes of their own on social media.
In an Instagram post, Cheryl, who first met Payne while working as a judge on The X Factor and dated him from 2016 to 2018, hit out at the “abhorrent reports and media exploitation” following his death, and said: “As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.
“Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.”
Styles called Payne his “lovely friend” and said: “I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” while Malik wrote: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there are so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 year old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know that you were my friend and that I loved.”
Horan, whose Buenos Aires show Payne attended shortly before his death, wrote: “Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure,” while Tomlinson said that he “lost a brother,” adding: “I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
“I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.”
The surviving One Direction members issued a joint statement too, writing: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
In an obituary, NME described Payne as a “One Direction star who helped spark a pop phenomenon,” adding: “Admirable candour and a constant desire to push forward are only part of his legacy. Payne, who is survived by family including his son Bear, played a pivotal role in making One Direction a worldwide phenomenon who turned a generation of young people into pop fans. As befits a star who rose to fame in the social media era, he leaves behind music, memes and memories that will be cherished for many years to come.”
