Zayn Malik honored his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne during a performance in Leeds on Saturday night, displaying a sign that read: “Love you, bro.”
The widely circulated message on social media included Payne’s name and the years of his birth and death.
Malik’s tour was scheduled to kick off in Edinburgh earlier this week. He has postponed two of his performances in the city, attributing the change to “unforeseen circumstances.”
The singer had delayed his US tour earlier, citing what he described as Payne’s “heartbreaking loss.”
Payne passed away at the age of 31 following a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina last month.
On Wednesday, a funeral service in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, brought together family, friends, and former bandmates to honor his memory.
Among the mourners were Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Malik, who gathered to pay their respects. They were joined by Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and his former partner, Cheryl, with whom he shares a son.
During a performance at the O2 Academy Leeds, Malik delivered a selection of his popular tracks, featuring hits such as Pillowtalk and My Woman.
There was widespread anticipation that he would honor Payne during the performance. Ultimately, he delivered his message at the very last moment, punctuated by a pink heart.
The news has garnered attention following Malik’s announcement last week regarding rescheduling two of his shows in Edinburgh.
In a recent Instagram story, he announced that the performance initially set for November 20 at the O2 Academy Edinburgh has been postponed to December 8.
The previously scheduled date of November 21 at the same venue has been rescheduled to December 9.
The announcement confirmed that “All tickets for the original show dates will be honored on the rescheduled dates.”
In October, he announced the postponement of his US shows, addressing fans with a heartfelt message: “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve decided to postpone the US leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour.”
Malik’s tour in the United States is set to kick off in San Francisco, with subsequent stops planned in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and New York.
The artist has informed fans on X that the dates will be rescheduled for January, assuring them that the tickets will remain valid for the new dates.
“I appreciate your understanding and love you all,” he stated.
Payne and Malik achieved international recognition as members of the boyband One Direction, formed on The X Factor television program in 2010. They performed alongside fellow bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
In 2015, Malik departed from the group to pursue a solo singing career, and the band subsequently disbanded in 2016.
In the wake of Payne’s passing, his One Direction bandmates took to social media to share a series of touching tributes, honoring their “brother” and reflecting on his role as “the most vital part” of the ensemble.
I held you in high regard and cherished our relationship. “I will cherish all the memories I have with you forever. There are no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated,” Malik expressed.
“I extend my hopes that you are in a good place, experiencing peace, and fully aware of the love surrounding you.”
