Perrie Edwards Cancels Performance After Liam Payne’s Death

Perrie Edwards canceled an upcoming performance following the news of Liam Payne’s death.

The former Little Mix member was set to perform in the BBC Live Lounge on Friday, October 17. However, Radio 1 hosts Rickie Haywood-Williams, Melvin Odoom and Charlie Hedge announced on Thursday, October 17, that Edwards, 31, would no longer be in studio.

“We’ve just had some news on our show that because of the sad news of Liam Payne earlier we have heard that Perrie is not going to be in the Live Lounge tomorrow,” they shared . “She was supposed to be performing but that’s now not happening tomorrow, but it will be happening at a later date.”

Both Edwards and Payne were contestants on The X Factor with their respective bands. Edwards was a member of Little Mix alongside Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall while Payne was in One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik.

While the two groups weren’t on the show at the same time — One Direction was on season 7 and Little Mix was on season 8 — Edwards was in a relationship with Malik while the bands were at the height of their fame. (Edwards and Malik were together for two years before he proposed in 2013. They split in 2015.)

Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died on Wednesday, October 16, at age 31 following a fall from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina. Police sources have since confirmed to Us that it’s known Payne “fell” but “it is not known whether he jumped” or if it was an accident.

Police arrived on the scene after 5 p.m. local time following a warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the Buenos Aires Security Ministry Communications Director told the Associated Press. (Details from the 911 call have since been released, with the hotel’s chief receptionist claiming that a guest had taken “too many drugs and alcohol,” according to a transcript obtained by the BBC.)

Documents obtained by Us confirmed that Payne died from multiple injuries involving “internal and external hemorrhage.” A toxicology report is still pending.

Medical professionals arrived on scene at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel following the incident, but Payne’s injuries were too severe. (One Direction fans have since held a vigil outside the hotel, singing the band’s songs in his honor.)

“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” Alberto Crescent, Buenos Aires emergency services chief, shared in a statement to local outlet La Nacion. “Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

Two weeks before his death, Payne was spotted in the crowd at former One Direction bandmate Horan’s concert in Argentina. He was visiting the country with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who flew to Florida two days before Payne’s death.

The singer is survived by his parents, two older sisters and 7-year-old son Bear.