Zayn Malik pays emotional tribute to Liam Payne at 'Stairway to the Sky' tour opening night

Zayn Malik paid tribute to his late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne during the opening night of his "Stairway to the Sky" tour on November 23, 2024, at the O2 Academy in Leeds, England. This marked Zayn's first public appearance since attending Liam's funeral earlier in the week.

At the end of the show, Zayn displayed a heartfelt message on a large screen that read, "Liam Payne 1993-2024" and "Love you bro" with a red heart emoji.

Courtesy: Backgrid USA

The tribute moved many fans, especially as it coincided with his performance of "Stardust." Zayn’s emotional gesture followed just days after he joined Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan at Liam’s funeral.

Earlier this week, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan reunited to pay their respects to Liam Payne at his funeral. The service was held on November 20, 2024, at a church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, near London.

It was the first time in years that the four former members of 'One Direction' were seen together, and photos of the reunion quickly went viral, deeply resonating with fans.

Fans were especially saddened by the circumstances of the reunion, noting Harry and Louis’s visibly emotional expressions as they arrived. Dressed in black suits and ties, the former bandmates shared moments of support, with fans observing Zayn and Louis comforting each other after the ceremony.