Funeral for former One Direction member Liam Payne gets underway in England
London (CNN) — The funeral service for One Direction star Liam Payne is taking place in England on Wednesday, after the British singer died last month.
Close family of Payne, 31, and his former bandmates arrived at St. Mary’s Church in the town of Amersham, where the funeral is being held. The church, northwest of London, was decorated with white roses and candle holders.
Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system, according to the country’s public prosecutor’s office, which launched an investigation. Three people are facing preliminary charges for crimes related to his death.
The musician spoke publicly about his challenges with substance abuse and his mental health. In the summer of 2023, he said he was marking six months of sobriety after completing treatment in a US facility. Later that year, he delayed his tour after suffering a kidney infection.
He is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with singer Cheryl Tweedy. The couple confirmed they had split in 2018 but continued to co-parent.
Payne soared to global fame as part of One Direction, the group that was created on the British talent show “The X Factor” in 2010.
He and his former colleagues – Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson – subsequently embarked on solo careers, after going on an “indefinite hiatus” in 2016.
The quartet were “completely devastated” over his death, according to a joint statement on Instagram.
“We will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,” Malik, Styles, Horan and Tomlinson posted on social media. “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.
“We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
The-CNN-Wire
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