Robbie Williams has paid tribute to Liam Payne in an emotional post when he reflected on how the One Directions star’s “trials and tribulations were very similar” to his own.
Former One Direction singer Payne died aged 31 on Wednesday evening after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
The circumstances around his death are still being investigated, however Argentina's prosecutor office has confirmed that a series of substances were seized from Payne's hotel room.
A search of Payne's room uncovered "what appeared to be narcotics, alcohol, destroyed objects and furniture", it added.
Before going solo, 50-year-old Williams like him, originally shot to fame as part of a boyband and has spoken openly in the past about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, especially at the height of his fame in the 1990s and early noughties.
Taking to social media on Friday, he penned a lengthy post lamenting the loss of the “handsome talented boy” who he had originally met as teenager when he mentored him on ITV talent show The X Factor.
"How to make sense of the Liam Payne tragedy?” he began.
"Obviously, my first feelings towards his passing were like everyone else. Shock, sadness and confusion. And to be honest as I write these words that’s where I still am."
"I met the boys on The X Factor and 'mentored' them. I use the word mentored in inverted brackets cos I hardly did anything to be honest. I just hung out with them. They were allcheeky and lovely. I enjoyed the light hearted p***takery and thought about all the times I was that cheeky p***taker with the Popstars that had gone before me when I was in Take That.
"Our paths have crossed ever since that day and I’m fond of them all.
"Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did.
"I guess in these moments it’s worth repeating -
"WE DON’T KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.WHAT PAIN THEY’RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT MAKES THEM BEHAVE IN THE WAY THAT THEY BEHAVE.
"BEFORE WE REACH TO JUDGEMENT, A BIT OF SLACK NEEDS TO BE GIVEN."
The Angels hit-maker continued: "BEFORE YOU TYPE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET, HAVE A THINK 'DO I REALLY NEED TO PUBLISH THIS?', BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE DOING.
"YOU’RE PUBLISHING YOUR THOUGHTS FOR ANYBODY TO READ. EVEN IF YOU DON’T REALLY THINK THAT CELEBRITIES OR THEIR FAMILIES EXIST. THEY F***ING DO. SKIN AND BONE AND IMMENSELY SENSITIVE.
"I still had my demons at 31. I relapsed. I was in pain. I was in pain because I relapsed.
"I relapsed because of a multitude of painful reasons. I remember Heath Ledger passing and thinking 'I’m next'.
"By the grace of god and/or dumb luck I’m still here.
"The internet will unfortunately carry on being the internet. The media will unfortunately carry on being the media and fame will carry on being fame.
"As individuals though we have the power to change ourselves. We can be kinder.
"We can be more empathetic. We can at least try to be more compassionate towards ourselves, our family, our friends, strangers in life and strangers on the internet.
"Even famous strangers need your compassion.
"What a Handsome Talented boy. What a tragic painful loss for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the energy this moment has created - The World.”
