Zayn Malik postpones US tour dates after death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne
Zayn Malik has postponed his US tour dates after the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.
The singer has put the American shows in his Stairway to the Sky Tour on the shelf, with all seven dates in the US not going ahead this month, he said on Saturday in an Instagram post.
His 11 shows in the UK are still set to go ahead from November 20.
Payne, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, two weeks after flying to Argentina to watch ex-bandmate Niall Horan perform there on tour.
Malik said: “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of Stairway To The Sky tour.
“The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days.
“Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for understanding.”
Malik and Payne were both part of One Direction alongside Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Horan after being formed on The X Factor in 2010.
Earlier on Saturday, Payne’s sister has paid tribute to her “best friend” in an emotional message following his death.
In a heartfelt post shared on Instagram, Ruth Gibbins described how she is "struggling" to cope with the loss of her "best friend."
Ms Gibbins thanked the singer for "changing my life" and for "being the best brother and friend I'll ever have," before vowing to "take care" of his seven-year-old son, Bear.
She wrote: "I don't believe this is happening. Many times have I poured my heart out publicly with pride about Liam but never much about life as his sister.
"Liam is my best friend, no one could ever make me laugh as much as him, doing his impressions always had me creasing and he loved seeing how much of a laugh he could get."
She added: "Liam, my brain is struggling to catch up with what's happening and I don't understand where you've gone.
"What I do love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I'm with you with anyone else."
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you," she said. "One last time I need you to know, I'm here if you need anything, I'd drive to the end of the universe to bring you back."
It comes after the singer’s father Geoff Payne was seen reading messages left by well-wishers outside the hotel as a crowd of grieving supporters gathered around him
Mr Payne arrived in Argentina on Friday to arrange the repatriation of his son’s body to the UK. Earlier in the day, he was spotted leaving a different hotel in the city, accompanied by British consular officials and security staff.
On Thursday, Payne’s family released a joint statement, saying they were "heartbroken" by his death.
The statement added: "Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we'll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul. Weare supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time."
Music mogul Cowell, 65, told of his own agony at Payne’s death. He said: "You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens.
"Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.
"Thousands of people would always ask me, 'What is Liam like?' And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweetthoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans."
Former Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy, who is mother to seven-year-old son Bear from her former relationship with Payne, shared a photo of him with their little boy.
She said: "As I try to navigate this earth shattering event and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I'd like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.
"Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven-year-old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.
"Please give Liam the little dignity he had left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last."
A post-mortem report showed Payne died of multiple traumas and "internal and external haemorrhage" following his fall.
Prosecutors in Argentina said they are investigating the tragedy as an "inconclusive death" after the report.