Zayn Malik, the former One Direction member, paid an emotional tribute to his late bandmate Liam Payne during the opening night of his 2024 “Stairway to the Sky” tour in Leeds, England.
This marked Zayn’s first public appearance since attending Liam’s funeral earlier in the week.
The tribute was a poignant moment for fans and a heartfelt gesture from Zayn, who has often been private about his emotions.
Zayn’s Emotional Return
Zayn’s return to the stage was filled with emotion. He had postponed the North American leg of his tour following Liam’s death, rescheduling the dates for January 2025.
The Leeds concert was a significant moment for Zayn, who has previously spoken about his struggles with anxiety and stage fright.
Despite these challenges, he delivered a powerful performance, including a live rendition of his hit song “Pillow Talk” for the first time.
Zayn ended his performance with a touching tribute to Liam. As he finished his second-to-last song, “Stardust,” a message appeared on the large screen behind him. The screen displayed the words “Liam Payne 1993-2024” and “Love you bro” with a red heart emoji2. This emotional moment resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom were moved to tears.
