NEED TO KNOW
- Liam Payne’s sisters Nicola and Ruth paid tribute to the late star on what would have been his 32nd birthday
- The singer’s family celebrated at a bowling alley, just like they did on his 31st birthday
- He died on Oct. 16, 2024
Liam Payne’s family is remembering the late One Direction star on what would have been his 32nd birthday.
The singer’s sisters Nicola and Ruth both shared emotional messages to Instagram on Aug. 29 that paid tribute to their brother, who died on Oct. 16, 2024 at age 31.
Nicola revealed that the Payne family had spent Liam’s final birthday together at a local bowling alley — and that they recreated the night without him in honor of his 32nd birthday.
“That night, celebrating your birthday with bowling and McDonald’s, we celebrated you, your show [Building the Band], your dreams, and spoke of all the plans you had for the future,” Nicola wrote. “We ended the evening with a hug. Telling you how proud we were and how much we loved you.”
She continued, “If I had known that would be the last time I’d see you, I would have said so much more. I wish I could step into a time machine and relive that night[,] hug you together, capture your smile and voice. Ask more questions, and write it all down so I’d never forget.”
In an Instagram Stories post on Aug. 31, Nicola revealed that the family had returned to the bowling alley.
“A year later same bowling alley, different lanes, one huge part of our family missing,” she wrote.
Nicola wrote in her post that she hopes Liam is “happy, at peace and know[s] just how deeply you are loved.”
“I miss you every single day, and I don’t think there will ever be a day that I don’t,” she wrote. “So today, on your birthday, I want to wish you the happiest heavenly birthday. Wherever you are, I hope you’re celebrating and hopefully you’ve scored a few strikes too. Love you always.”
Meanwhile, Liam’s sister Ruth also shared her memories of that final visit, which was also the last time she saw the “Strip That Down” singer.
“It was just the 5 of us for your birthday last year, something that had rarely happened since 1D had begun and I was so happy about it that when I wrote your card, I misspelt your name as ‘Laim’ and we laughed [and said] I should address you this way in all future cards, not knowing this would be the last card I’d write to you,” she wrote.
Ruth said there was so much that she wished she’d said and done, and noted she’s “been waiting for you to walk in all day and tell me this was all a huge misunderstanding.”
“When we were with you this day last year, you had so many plans, so many things to do and the year ahead felt full of excitement,” she wrote.
Her message concluded, “Birthday wishes Laim, love always, miss you more every day🎳.”
On Sept. 1, she shared on her Instagram Stories that she visited the memorial for her brother that fans created at the bandstand in Wolverhampton West Park, his hometown.
“I visited the memorial for Liam today. Thank you to everyone who has decorated the bandstand in Wolverhampton West Park, it’s full of all the love he deserved in all of your kind words,” she wrote.
She also shared additional video of her showing all the things left for him set to “I Want to Write You a Song” by One Direction, writing, “Honestly, thank you xx”
Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy also paid tribute to the late musician with a video of herself making a cake for his birthday. She set the video to Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” and eventually blew out a single candle on her own before taking a bite.
“Happy birthday Liam, I know you still have the sweetest tooth in heaven. I tried my best here but it’s the thought that counts 🙂enjoy ! ❤️,” Cassidy, 26, captioned the post.
Liam died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He appeared posthumously as a guest judge on Netflix’s Building the Band, which premiered in July.
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