Zayn Malik shares refreshingly honest tribute to bandmate Liam Payne as he admits they ‘butted heads’ but praises him for ‘helping him through his darkest times’

Zayn Malik shared a refreshingly honest tribute to his late bandmate Liam Payne as he thanked him for ‘helping him through his darkest times’  following his shock death on Wednesday. 

The singer tragically passed away at age 31 on Wednesday evening, after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

And while former One Direction star Zayn admitted he and Liam ‘butted heads a few times’ he wrote he always ‘respected him’ and had ‘lost a brother’ as he broke his silence on the singer’s death. 

Zayn quit the band back in 2015 citing ‘stress’ and stating he wanted to be a ‘normal 22-year-old’ and over the years he and Liam were known to not always see eye to eye. 

Taking to Instagram on Thursday evening, Zayn wrote: ‘Liam I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

Zayn Malik thanks Liam Payne for supporting him through ‘difficult times’ despite ‘butting heads’ in heartfelt tribute to One Direction bandmate on Thursday evening 

The singer tragically passed away at age 31 on Wednesday evening, after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina

‘I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

‘When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.

‘Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me., you were headstrong, opinionated and gave no f**ks about telling people they were wrong.

‘Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.’

Various tensions were known in the band after Liam shed a stark light on how  relations between the boys deteriorated when he claimed that he once got into a physical altercation with one of his bandmates during a very heated exchange. 

While Liam declined to name them Liam’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry, who dated the star on and off for four years, revealed it was Zayn who allegedly threw him against a wall.

Zayn has never spoken out about the incident to confirm what happened. 

Meanwhile in the same interview on Logan Paul’s podcast Liam branded Zayn a ‘d***’ and discussed a post by Zayn’s then-girlfriend Gigi Hadid about how her partner was ‘respectful’.

He penned: ‘I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time’

He wrote: ‘Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it’ 

In 2022, Liam claimed that he once got into a physical altercation allegedly with Zayn during a very heated exchange, but he declined to name them

The late star said there were ‘many reasons why I dislike Zayn’ but that he will ‘always be on his side’ because of Zayn’s alleged tough upbringing.

Building bridges he later apologised for the comments in 2023.  

Zayn’s tribute continued: ‘When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense, I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child, with no experience and you were already a professional.

‘I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.

‘I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.

‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.

‘I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace, and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.’

Meanwhile someone close to Zayn revealed the star ‘in absolute bits’ following Liam’s shock death.

A US music producer working with Zayn from One Direction told DailyMail.com exclusively that the singer is in ‘shock’ over Liam’s sudden passing.

They added that Zayn’s loved ones ‘don’t want him to be alone’ at the moment, so he is ‘surrounded by his friends.’ 

‘Zayn was told in the early hours of this morning and has been in absolute bits,’ they said. 

‘He is in shock, and his parents have been in touch with Liam’s family to offer their support and condolences. 

‘People close to Zayn don’t want him to be alone at the moment, so he is surrounded by friends.’

They said it ‘had been a while since Zayn and Liam had spoken’ due to ‘issues they had with one another in the past.’

‘But they respected each other from a distance,’ the insider explained. ‘They didn’t hate each other but they couldn’t see eye to eye on different things.

‘But they both felt that they had been exploited in the music industry.’

DailyMail.com has reached out to Zayn for comment. 

Zayn and Liam were put into the band One Direction together alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson after they auditioned as solo artists on the X Factor in 2010.

News hit the web that Liam had tragically passed away at age 31 on Wednesday evening, after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is seen above 

Now, someone who is close to his ex-groupmate Zayn, 31, has revealed how the Pillowtalk artist has reacted to the horrific news

A US music producer who is currently working with Zayn told DailyMail.com exclusively that he is in ‘shock’ over Liam’s sudden passing

The group went on to become a massive success, releasing five wildly popular albums, dominating the charts, breaking multiple records, and embarking on numerous sold-out world tours. 

Zayn famously left the band in 2015, and in 2016, he said he was ‘the closest with Liam’ when he was asked what his relationship with his former bandmates was like.

‘Zayn was told in the early hours of this morning and has been in absolute bits,’ they said. ‘He is in shock.’ One of Liam’s final selfies in Buenos Aires is seen

‘I’m still probably the closest to Liam. We talk on the phone. He congratulated me on my single. Which was nice. I congratulated him on his Brit Award,’ he said at the time.

However, by 2022, it seemed as though their relationship had become strained as Liam confessed during an appearance on a podcast, ‘There are many reasons why I dislike Zayn.

‘But there are many reasons why I’ll always always be on his side,’ he added.

Liam was declared dead after he fell 45-feet from the third floor into a courtyard at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood in Buenos Aires. 

Authorities said he died instantly from multiple injuries, including a fractured skull. 

Argentinian media reported that police were called to the hotel beforehand over reports of an aggressive man who was believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

A hotel worker made two calls, saying in the first: ‘We have a guest who’s off his head on drugs and is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.’

Liam was declared dead after he fell 45-feet from the third floor into a courtyard (seen) at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood in Buenos Aires 

Argentinian media reported that police were called to the hotel beforehand over reports of an aggressive man who was believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol 

Liam had arrived in Argentina earlier this month for his ex-bandmate Niall Horan’s concert with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy 

He then phoned again, adding: ‘I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger. The room has a balcony and we are afraid he might do something.’ 

Liam was said to have been ‘acting erratically in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop’ before he ‘had to be carried back to his room,’ local media reported.

She left two days ago, explaining in a TikTok video that she ‘needed to go home,’ but he stayed in the South American country alone

The singer’s family told DailyMail.com afterwards that they are ‘utterly devastated’ by his death.

‘We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,’ they added in a statement.

‘We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.’

Liam had arrived in Argentina earlier this month for his ex-bandmate Niall’s concert with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. 

She left two days ago, explaining in a TikTok video that she ‘needed to go home,’ but he stayed in the South American country alone.

His shock passing comes days after his ex-fiancée Maya Henry started legal proceedings against him.

She reportedly served Liam with cease and desist papers last week after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her.