Zayn Malik ‘shocked’ and ‘in absolute bits’ after Liam Payne’s death in tragic accident

Zayn Malik is reportedly in "absolute bits" after learning of the sudden death of his former One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, who tragically passed away on Wednesday at age 31.

Payne fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and died instantly from multiple injuries, including a fractured skull. Argentinian media reported that Payne had been behaving erratically before the incident, with police called to the hotel over concerns regarding his behavior.

A source close to Malik, 31, revealed to DailyMail.com that he is in "shock" and surrounded by friends for support. "Zayn was told in the early hours of this morning and has been in absolute bits," the insider said. The source added that Malik's parents have reached out to Payne’s family to offer their condolences.

Despite tensions between the two in recent years, Malik and Payne shared a strong bond during their time in One Direction. "They respected each other from a distance," the insider explained, "and both felt exploited in the music industry." Payne had previously acknowledged this in a podcast, where he expressed complicated feelings toward Malik but maintained that he would "always be on his side."

Payne was in Argentina to attend a concert by former bandmate Niall Horan. His family expressed their devastation over the loss, saying, "Liam will forever live in our hearts."