Rita Ora honored Liam Payne, who tragically passed away after a fall from his hotel balcony in Argentina, at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester.
“Let’s pause to remember someone very dear to us,” said Ora, hosting the EMAs for the third time. “He was a significant part of the MTV world, my world, and likely many of yours.”
Having worked together on “For You” in 2018, Ora described Payne as incredibly kind and mentioned that discussions had taken place on how best to honor him.
“I think sometimes just simply speaking is enough,” she continued. “He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could.”
“He brought so much joy to every room he walked into, and he left such a mark on this world,” she added, tearfully. “So, let’s just take a moment to remember our friend Liam.”
We feel his absence deeply and remember the happiness he spread.
As a tribute, photos of Payne appeared on screen with the words, “MTV remembers Liam Payne 1993 – 2024,” while One Direction’s “Night Changes” played softly.
Last month, Ora also paid homage to Payne during a concert in Osaka, Japan, performing an emotional version of their song “For You.”
“I can’t even sing this right now,” Ora told the crowd in Japan before asking them, “Can you sing this for me?” A photo of Ora and Payne then appeared on the video screen as the singer exited the stage.
