Zayn Malik postpones US tour after Liam Payne’s tragic death

Zayn Malik has announced he’s postponed his US tour following the death of his former bandmate Liam Payne.

The tragic news has left the world shocked and heartbroken this week. Singer Liam fell from his third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina on Wednesday (October 16).

Liam, who was just 31, found fame on The X Factor and went on to have worldwide stardom with his One Direction bandmates.

Zayn spoke out this week, saying he’s “beyond devastated” over Liam’s death. Now, he’s issued another statement to postpone his tour.

Zayn Malik has postponed his tour after Liam Payne’s death (Credit: Cover Images)

Zayn Malik postpones tour after Liam Payne death

The singer was about to begin his US tour in San Francisco on Wednesday.

However, in a post on X on Saturday evening, Zayn said: “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the STAIRWAY TO THE SKY Tour.

“The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for your understanding.”

Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the STAIRWAY TO THE SKY Tour. The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the…

— zayn (@zaynmalik) October 19, 2024

Earlier this week, Zayn paid tribute to Liam in a heartbreaking post on Instagram.

He wrote: “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.

“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There are no words to justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.”

Zayn and Liam relationship

Singer Liam was vocal about his friendship with Zayn over the years. They came together in 2010 along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan to form One Direction.

However, in 2015, Zayn announced he had quit the band.

At that time, Liam said of Zayn’s departure: “He had to do what he had to do really, for himself. It’s fine. We’re just going to carry on doing what we’re doing.

“We wish him all the best with whatever he goes into and stuff. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

One Direction were formed on The X Factor (Credit: SplashNews.com)
However, in the years that followed and once the band had all gone their separate ways in 2016, Liam appeared to make some digs at Zayn.

During an appearance on the Killing It podcast in 2020, Liam said: “Zayn makes music, but he doesn’t really perform.

“For him, he had such performance anxiety that he just couldn’t put his head around it.”

He added at the time: “He likes going to the studio, making the songs, he just doesn’t want to do anything that happens after that. But he is streaming hugely.”

Liam reportedly had a complicated friendship with Zayn (Credit: Cover Images)

Liam Payne podcast comments

Meanwhile, in 2022, whilst speaking on the Impaulsive podcast, Liam said of his bandmate: “There’s many reasons why I dislike Zayn and there’s many reasons why I’ll always, always be on his side.

“My parents are overly supportive to the point where it’s annoying at times. Zayn had a different upbringing in that sense.

“You can always look at the man for where he is and say, ‘Oh, yeah, whatever, that guy’s a [bleep].’

“But at the end of the day, once you understand what he’s been through to get to that point — and also whether or not he wanted to be there.”

Liam spoken about his friendship with Zayn on a podcast in 2022 (Credit: YouTube)
During that same interview, Liam claimed that he and one of his former One Direction bandmates “hated each other” during their time in the band.

He said: “There was one moment where there was an argument backstage, and one member in particular threw me up a wall.”

However, he didn’t name the bandmate. Liam’s former fiancée Maya Henry has since alleged that Liam was talking about Zayn. However, that hasn’t been confirmed.

After his podcast comments in 2022, Liam appeared to address them on X.

He said: “I wouldn’t normally comment on this stuff but when it’s your family it’s hard to let it slide. They mentioned a specific incident involving Zayn which I responded to — but listening back maybe I didn’t articulate myself as well as I could have.

“I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on but that I will always, always be on his side. That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.”

Then in a 2023 YouTube video, Liam gushed over his bandmates. He said of the podcast appearance: “A lot of what I said came from the wrong place.

“The rest of the boys really stuck by me when I needed them most, they kinda came to the rescue. Even Zayn, as well, which is why I did send him a little thank you online.”