Zayn Malik is ‘in pieces’ over the shocking death of former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.
News hit the web that Liam had tragically passed away at age 31 on Wednesday night, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Now, someone close to his former bandmate Zayn, 31, has revealed how the Pillowtalk artist reacted to the horrible news.
An American music producer who works with One Direction’s Zayn told DailyMail.com exclusively that the singer is in “shock” over Liam’s sudden death.
They added that Zayn’s loved ones “don’t want him to be alone” right now, so he is “surrounded by his friends.”
Zayn Malik is ‘in pieces’ over the shocking death of former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne
“Zayn was notified in the early hours of this morning and has been completely devastated,” they said.
“He is shocked and his parents have contacted Liam’s family to offer their support and condolences.
“People close to Zayn don’t want him to be alone right now, so he’s surrounded by friends.”
They said that “it had been a while since Zayn and Liam had spoken” due to “issues they had with each other in the past.”
“But they respected each other from a distance,” the source explained. ‘They didn’t hate each other, but they couldn’t agree on different things.
“But they both felt they had been exploited in the music industry.”
DailyMail.com has contacted Zayn for comment.
Zayn and Liam were included in the band One Direction together alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson after they auditioned as solo artists on the X Factor in 2010.
News hit the web that Liam had tragically passed away at age 31 on Wednesday night, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as seen above.
Now, someone close to his former bandmate Zayn, 31, has revealed how the Pillowtalk artist reacted to the horrible news.
An American music producer currently working with Zayn told DailyMail.com exclusively that he is “shocked” by Liam’s sudden passing.
The group became a huge success, releasing five wildly popular albums, dominating the charts, breaking multiple records, and embarking on numerous sold-out world tours.
Zayn left the band in 2015, and in 2016, he said he was “the closest to Liam” when asked what his relationship with his former bandmates was like.
“Zayn was notified in the early hours of this morning and has been completely devastated,” they said. “He’s in shock.” One of Liam’s final selfies is seen in Buenos Aires
‘I’m probably still the closest to Liam. We talk on the phone. He congratulated me on my single. Which was nice. “I congratulated him on his Brit Award,” he said at the time.
However, by 2022, it seemed that their relationship had become strained when Liam confessed during a podcast appearance: “There are a lot of reasons why I don’t like Zayn.”
“But there are many reasons why I will always be by his side,” he added.
Liam was pronounced dead after falling 45 feet from a third floor to a patio of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Authorities said he died instantly from multiple injuries, including a fractured skull.
Argentine media reported that police were called to the hotel beforehand for reports of an aggressive man believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
A hotel worker made two calls and on the first one said, “We have a guest who is crazy on drugs and is destroying everything in his room.” We need someone to come.
Liam was pronounced dead after falling 45 feet from a third floor to a patio (pictured) of the Hotel Casa Sur in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Argentine media reported that police were called to the hotel beforehand for reports of an aggressive man believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Liam had arrived in Argentina earlier this month for his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
Then he called again and added: “I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger.” The room has a balcony and we are afraid that he might do something.’
Liam was said to have been “acting erratically in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop” before “having to be taken back to his room”, local media reported.
She left two days ago and explained in a TikTok video that she ‘needed to come home’, but he was left alone in the South American country.
The singer’s family later told DailyMail.com that they are “completely devastated” by his death.
‘We are heartbroken. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” they added in a statement.
“We support each other as best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this terrible time.”
Liam had arrived in Argentina earlier this month for his former bandmate Niall’s concert with girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
She left two days ago and explained in a TikTok video that she ‘needed to come home’, but he was left alone in the South American country.
His shocking death comes days after his ex-fiancee Maya Henry initiated legal proceedings against him.
She reportedly served Liam with cease and desist papers last week after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her.