Zayn Malik Honors Liam Payne with Emotional Tribute During Leeds Concert

Zayn Malik paid a heartfelt tribute to his late former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne during a performance at the O2 Academy Leeds on Saturday night. At the end of his show, Malik held up a sign that read, “Love you bro,” accompanied by Payne’s name and birth and death years. The message, shared widely on social media, concluded with a pink heart.

The tribute followed an emotionally charged month for Malik, whose tour has faced delays in the wake of Payne’s passing. The Leeds concert saw Malik perform hits such as Pillowtalk and My Woman. Fans had speculated that Malik would address Payne’s loss during the show, and his poignant gesture left the audience moved.

Payne tragically died at age 31 last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. His funeral took place on Wednesday in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, attended by family, friends, and all four of his former bandmates—Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik. Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and his former partner Cheryl, with whom he shares a son, were also present.

Malik has postponed several tour dates, both in the UK and the US, citing the “heartbreaking loss” of Payne. Two Edinburgh shows, originally scheduled for 20 and 21 November, have been moved to 8 and 9 December, respectively. Malik assured fans that all tickets for the original dates would remain valid.

Similarly, Malik delayed the US leg of his Stairway to the Sky Tour, which had been set to begin in San Francisco, followed by stops in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York. Rescheduled US dates are planned for January, with tickets remaining valid.

“Love you all and thank you for your understanding,” Malik shared with fans on social media.