The forty fifth iteration of the BRIT Awards featured an emotional tribute to One Route‘s Liam Payne, the late chart-topping BRITs winner that died at age 31 in October.
In direction of the top of the ceremony on Saturday night time, host Jack Whitehall advised the group it was time to honor “a really particular one who meant a lot to so most of the individuals on this room and to thousands and thousands of you world wide.”
“Final October, we woke to the devastating information that Liam Payne had tragically handed away,” Whitehall continued. “He achieved a lot within the quick time that he was on this earth, and was not solely a supremely gifted musician, however an extremely type soul who touched the lives of everybody he got here into contact with. We’ve got so many wonderful reminiscences of Liam right here on the BRITs, so tonight we have a good time his legacy, look again and bear in mind the outstanding Liam Payne.”
A video montage then performed, together with footage of Payne on tour with One Route and along with his household, soundtracked to One Route’s “Little Issues.” After the tribute aired, Payne’s 1D bandmate Louis Tomlinson wrote on X that it was “lovely,” including: “Miss you at all times brother.”
Whitehall, a buddy of Payne’s, teased a tribute to the late “What Makes You Stunning Singer” on the Australian radio present, “Fifi, Fev and Nick,” saying “[Liam] was a giant a part of [The Brit Awards]… once I was on the Brits, he was at all times so sport and up for it. And we had a very enjoyable time with him there, when he was there with Cheryl [Cole].”
As a member of One Route, Payne gained seven BRIT Awards, together with 4 wins within the British video of the 12 months class. Exterior of his work with One Route, Payne was nominated by the BRIT Awards for his music “Strip That Down” with American rapper Quavo, and “For You” with Rita Ora.
Payne was additionally honored by the music neighborhood on the Grammy Awards earlier this 12 months with a celebration of life in the course of the In Memoriam phase as Coldplay’s Chris Martin sang “All My Love.” Payne died on Oct. 16 after falling from a third-floor lodge balcony in Buenos Aires. His toxicology outcomes revealed alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressants had been in his system on the time of his dying. Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz — the 2 males accused of promoting Payne medication — stay behind bars as they await trial, per a Feb. 19 report from Rolling Stone.
On his dying, his former bandmates wrote in a joint assertion, “We’re utterly devastated by the information of Liam’s passing.”
They continued, “In time, and when everybody is ready to, there can be extra to say. However for now, we are going to take a while to grieve and course of the lack of our brother, who we beloved dearly. The reminiscences we shared with him can be treasured endlessly. For now, our ideas are along with his household, his associates, and the followers who beloved him alongside us. We’ll miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Watch the complete tribute beneath.
