NEWS
Justin Bieber is empathizing with grieving fans following the death of Liam Payne.
Five days after the former One Direction star died at 31 years old after falling from the third story of his hotel in Buenos Aires, the “Sorry” singer reposted an emotional reel of videos taken at fan memorials for Payne all around the world via his Instagram Story on Monday (Oct. 21). “Just remember, you are allowed to grieve as a fan,” a voice-over on the video states.
“You are allowed to love someone you never met,” it continues. “You are allowed to admire someone for their art. You are allowed to cry, to pray, to feel like a part of you is gone. Even if they never knew your name, they changed your world.”
Over the video, the “Baby” artist added a simple heartbreak emoji.
As seen in the video shared by Bieber, fans have been gathering in London, Glasgow, Paris, Sydney, New York City and more locations to sing and cry together while mourning Payne with flowers, photos and candles. The musician died Oct. 16 and is survived by a 7-year-old son, Bear.
Payne is believed to have been alone when he died, according to a recent preliminary autopsy report. Moments before he fell to his death, a hotel manager called 911 to report that a guest was “overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol” and “destroying [their] entire room”; by the time police arrived in response, the “Strip That Down” artist had already fallen and suffered multiple fatal hemorrhages.
The initial autopsy also concluded that Payne likely had drugs in his system when he died, which new toxicology test results confirm. Among those substances was a recreational drug called “pink cocaine” — a mix of substances that often contains ketamine combined with MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids and/or psychoactive substances — and authorities are currently investigating who provided Payne with the drugs.
Bieber is just the latest star to post in the aftermath of Payne’s death, with the late singer’s sisters, girlfriend and former One Direction bandmates all posting statements over the past few days. In 2022, Payne opened up about a time he met up with Bieber in a trailer to defuse perceived tensions between 1D and two-time Grammy winner, telling Logan Paul: “I was like, ‘Dude, I’ve always felt for you … I’ve done all the things you’ve done and I’ve never been caught for any of them.'”
Payne also said at the time that he’d told Bieber that they both “suffer from the same disease,” but that he’d at least had bandmates to lean on in hard times. “‘And I know in your camp you’re you and there’s no one like you, so you can’t turn around and have that shoulder,’” Payne recalled telling Bieber. “And he was like, ‘Bro, that’s giving me chills.’”
10cc drummer Paul Burgess has announced that he is leaving the band because the demands of touring have become too much for him.
The 75-year-old musician, who also spent time performing with Jethro Tull, Camel, Magna Carta, and The Icicle Works, has chosen to walk away from the legendary rock group after more than five decades.
He shared: “After so many wonderful years with 10cc, I must admit that the rigours of touring are no longer manageable for me as I get older, and I feel it’s time to let go of the long hours in airports and endless travel on buses.
“I’m not planning to stop playing altogether. I will still perform but at a pace that feels right, working alongside old friends and a new group of fellow musicians called The Guilty Men.”
Frontman Graham Gouldman confessed that it will feel unusual to perform without his “longest-running musical associate.”
He explained: “When Paul and I first joined forces in 10cc, we never could have imagined that we’d still be at it after 30 years, let alone 52.
“Paul has been my longest musical partner and it will feel different to turn around and see another drummer, but I completely understand why he no longer wants to sit on a plane for 14 hours or wake up in a new hotel every day for weeks at a time.”
Ben Stone, who has previously played with Mike and The Mechanics and Bonnie Tyler, will be taking over on drums.
Paul, who had several runs with 10cc after joining in 1973, performed his final show with the I’m Not In Love band in Alexandria, Virginia this past September.
The group is set to continue their And Another Bloody Greatest Hits Tour in the UK next year.
