Liam Payne’s oldest sister is processing the shock of his death at 31 last week.
In an Instagram post Monday, Nicola Payne remembered her younger brother as “an angel who just lived for making people smile” and criticized “this cruel world” for mocking the former One Direction member in social media posts prior to his death. She also opened up about learning the news of his death from media coverage.
“I have posted about Liam and his achievements over the years with a proud sister alert and that has stood then, now and always!!!” her statement began. “When I saw the news pop up on my phone that you had left us I went cold, I wanted so much for this to be untrue. I have spent days hoping that it was a mistake and somebody has got it wrong.
“You were truly too good for this earth, you are an angel who just lived for making people smile and happy. You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew!” she continued.
Nicola also shared several photos of herself and her family with Liam over the years, including snapshots of him with her 4-year-old daughter, Ffion Farnell. She acknowledged they didn’t have many pictures together because their family “never wanted you to feel like you were in a room of fans, but we were your biggest fans always and forever.”
“Your talent alone puts you miles ahead, but also you being you. I have been looking back at the messages from the night I had Ffion, how excited you were to meet her, the jokes we all shared and the laughter that you knew we all needed,” she wrote. “You led your life with a motto of why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it, and Liam you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!!”
Seemingly referring to social media posts about Liam’s dancing at Niall Horan’s Buenos Aires show earlier this month, Nicola wrote, “Unfortunately this cruel world is always to quick to judge someone from a few 5 second clips, they then think it entitles them to be able to speak like they know you. We knew you and we loved you.”
She concluded: “I hope you have finally found peace up there and that you’ll continue to look after us all as you have done in life. We will make sure Bear knows about his daddy and how much you loved him, we promise this. See you soon Liam, Love You xx.”
Liam Payne shares a 7-year-old son, Bear, with his ex-girlfriend, the British singer Cheryl.
Several other One Direction family members joined in the comments to send their condolences. Louis Tomlinson’s father, Mark Tomlinson, wrote, “Every thought is with you. I’m here for you.” Niall Horan’s older brother, Greg Horan, wrote, “Nicola I’m so sorry for your loss you guys are in my thoughts and prayers love yee all.”
Liam Payne’s sister Ruth Gibbins says the world wasn’t ‘good enough or kind enough’ to him
Nicola’s post comes one day after her sister Ruth Gibbins spoke out about Liam Payne’s death. In her message, she also expressed disbelief at her younger brother’s passing.
“I don’t believe this is happening,” she wrote in an Instagram post, adding that he “is my best friend.” She also shared several memories with him, including driving him home from One Direction concerts.
“Liam loved 1D, he loved his brothers and we talked about it so much. He would just play song after song that had been recorded but never used and we’d sit having a mini 1D concert,” Gibbons wrote. “Liam was born with music in his veins, it was clear from a very young age he just had that quality that would make him a star. I could sit and listen to him sing all day, which is a good job really because he never bloody stopped! I will never tire of the look he gives when showing new songs, ‘listen loud’ he’d say and just grin with pride at his work.”
“I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you,” she wrote. “You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time.”
She also expressed her regret, writing, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.” Gibbons added, “I’d drive to the end of the universe to bring you back.”
On Friday, Liam, Nicola and Ruth’s father, Geoff Payne, visited the Buenos Aires hotel where the singer was found dead after falling from his third-floor balcony, per Argentinian authorities. According to BBC and Sky News, he viewed tributes at a makeshift memorial created by fans and earlier in the day visited the morgue to identify his son.
Reuters has reported that Buenos Aires prosecutors said initial findings from their investigation suggested substance abuse was a factor in Liam Payne’s fall.
Since Liam Payne’s Oct. 16 death, tributes have been pouring in from across the world, including his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the joint statement, shared on One Direction’s previously inactive Instagram account, read. “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.”
Each member also issued individual statements expressing their devastation at losing their “lovely friend” and “brother.”
After writing “I lost a brother when you left us” in his Instagram post, Malik postponed the U.S. leg of his upcoming tour.
