'Just a boy' - tributes paid to Liam Payne, dead at 31

Celebrities person paid tribute to the erstwhile One Direction prima Liam Payne, aft his "devastating" decease aged 31.

The popular star, who recovered fame connected The X Factor successful 2010, died aft falling from the 3rd level of a edifice successful Argentina, constabulary say.

Following his decease astatine astir 17:00 (21:00 BST; 20:00 GMT) connected Wednesday, stars expressed their upset and posted memories of the dada who shared a son, Bear, with erstwhile spouse Girls Aloud prima Cheryl.

Dermot O'Leary, who hosted The X Factor erstwhile Liam appeared, posted a photograph of the brace connected stage, captioning the Instagram post: "The worst news."

"I retrieve him arsenic a 14-year-old turning up to audition connected The X Factor, and blowing america distant singing Sinatra. He conscionable loved to sing," helium wrote.

"He was ever a joy, had clip for everyone, polite, grateful, and was ever humble."

Liam was 1 of 5 members of One Direction, on with Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles.

Harry's parent Anne Twist besides paid tribute, posting a broken-hearted emoji connected Instagram, captioning it: "Just a boy."

Singer Olly Murs, who starred connected The X Factor a twelvemonth earlier One Direction, said helium was "lost for words", describing Payne's decease arsenic "devastating" connected Instagram.

Olly said: "We ever had a bully laughter erstwhile we saw each other, sometimes the drawback ups were lone abbreviated and saccharine but erstwhile we did it was mostly astir however annoyingly bully his hairsbreadth ever looked, oregon our emotion for Becks, the aged XF [X Factor] days and the circuit we shared together.

"Liam shared the aforesaid passions arsenic me, the aforesaid dreams truthful to spot his beingness present extremity truthful young hits hard, I'm genuinely gutted and devastated for his household and of people his lad Bear losing a dad."

The Wanted prima Max George described his decease arsenic "absolutely devastating news".

"Over the past fewer years I had the pleasance of getting to cognize him personally and spent immoderate treasured clip with him," helium said connected Instagram.

"Liam was perfectly fantastic successful presumption of enactment erstwhile Tom [Parker] fell ill, performing astatine the Royal Albert Hall with america for Stand Up To Cancer.

"He supported maine a batch personally aft Tom passed. I volition ne'er hide that."

US vocalist Charlie Puth, a co-writer connected Payne's 2017 opus Bedroom Floor, said helium was successful "shock" aft Payne's death.

Charlie posted images of the brace moving together, alongside the caption "Liam was ever truthful benignant to me".

"He was 1 of the archetypal large artists I got to enactment with. I cannot judge helium is gone... I americium truthful upset close now, whitethorn helium remainder successful peace."

On X, Rylan Clark, who was besides a X Factor contestant, said the decease was "so tragic" , portion Jedward sent their condolences to Cheryl, his lad Bear and "all the One Direction family".

Socialite Paris Hilton besides paid tribute connected X, calling the singer's decease "so upsetting".

DJ and euphony shaper Zedd, who featured alongside Payne connected the 2017 opus Get Low, called the singer's decease "absolutely heartbreaking".

American vocalist and rapper Ty Dolla Sign said helium would "miss" Payne, captioning videos and pictures connected his Instagram story: "Just talked to you 2 days agone my guy."