Zayn Malik honored his late friend and former One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, with an emotional dedication during his recent Stairway to the Sky tour stop in Wolverhampton, England. Before performing “iT’s YoU,” Malik addressed the crowd, saying, “This is for you Liam,” in a heartfelt tribute to Payne, who tragically passed away in October.
In a touching moment captured by fans, Malik shared his tribute, saying, “I’ve been doing something at the end of the show every night, and it’s being dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace. I hope you’re seeing this in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton. This is for you Liam.”
The tribute follows Malik’s previous commemoration of Payne at his Leeds show, where a screen displayed a message reading, “Liam Payne 1993-2024,” accompanied by a blue background and red heart. The bandmates left the stage as Malik’s song “Stardust” played, marking another emotional moment in their tour.
Malik had attended Payne’s funeral just days earlier, reuniting with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan for the first time since leaving One Direction in 2015. The bandmates had also released a joint statement mourning Payne’s passing, along with their personal tributes. Malik had previously shared a heartfelt Instagram post, reflecting on the loss of his close friend and expressing gratitude for Payne’s support during difficult times in his life.