Emotional Harry Styles pauses final Wembley show to pay tribute to former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne

Harry Styles fought back tears on Saturday as he paused his final Wembley show to pay an emotional tribute to his former One Direction bandmates, including the late Liam Payne. The 12-night residency at the London venue came to an end that evening, marking a record-breaking achievement.

During the performance, Styles addressed the sold-out crowd with visible emotion. He said: "I wouldn't be here tonight without four friends of mine. I want to thank Niall, Louis, Zayn and my dear friend Liam." The tribute acknowledged his former bandmates Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, as well as Payne, who died in October 2024 aged 31 following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

One Direction was formed on ITV's The X Factor in 2010 when the five boys were brought together after auditioning as solo acts. The band achieved global success, selling more than 70 million records worldwide before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, was a significant part of Styles' career journey.

The moment was made particularly poignant by the presence of Payne's family members in the audience. His parents, Geoff and Karen, his sister Ruth, and his nephew attended the final performance to witness Styles' emotional tribute.

Styles' 12-night run at Wembley Stadium concluded on July 4, breaking the previous record held by Coldplay of 10 consecutive shows. The residency, initially planned as a six-night engagement, expanded to 12 dates due to overwhelming fan demand. Styles' sister Gemma also made a surprise appearance on stage during the final show, delivering her own emotional tribute to her brother's record-breaking achievement.