Nicola Payne, Liam Payne’s sister, shared a deeply emotional tribute on what would have been the artist’s 32nd birthday. The former One Direction star tragically died on October 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of 31. His passing was later confirmed to have been tied to substances and high blood alcohol levels.
Nicola remembered their last night together on the singer’s birthday, a bowling trip with a casual McDonald’s run on August 29, 2024. She wrote that if she had known it was the last time she’d see her brother, she would have hugged him tighter and told him even more about how proud she was. Her Instagram message on August 29, 2025, read like both a birthday wish and a love letter to her brother’s memory.
“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 tighter, capture your smile and voice, ask more questions, and write it all down so I’d never forget. I hope you’re happy, at peace and know 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 wasn’t alone in honoring him. Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy also posted a heartfelt note, saying her heart broke not being able to celebrate with him in person. She promised to cherish his memory and celebrate his life every August 29. The singer’s last project before his passing was “Building the Band” on Netflix, a reality show where he participated as a coach, helping and advising aspiring pop stars.