Boy Bands Mourn Liam Payne: Lance Bass, AJ McLean and More

Celebrities have flooded social media with tributes for the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, several of whom are other famous boy band members.

The Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean told TMZ on Monday, October 21, that he couldn’t “fathom” the thought of losing one of his bandmates. “Liam was a friend. We had just finished filming a TV show together,” he told the outlet, referring to the upcoming Netflix series Building the Band, which also stars Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland.

“We spent six weeks together, and you know, it’s absolutely tragic. I’m still processing it, I’m sure as well as his family and friends and bandmates,” McLean added. “It’s absolutely tragic, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone — the family, his bandmates, to the fans.

Us Weekly confirmed on Wednesday, October 16, that Payne died at the age of 31 after falling from his hotel room’s third-story balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. An autopsy report obtained by Us revealed that the musician died of “multiple traumas” involving “internal and external hemorrhage.”

Payne rose to fame on the U.K. version of The X Factor, on which he and bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson were formed into One Direction. The group went on an indefinite hiatus one year after Malik left the band.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the group’s remaining members wrote in a joint Instagram statement on Thursday, October 17, before each member shared their own individual tributes.

“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” their message continued. “For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”

Scroll down to see which other former (and current) boy band members have spoken out about Payne’s death:

AJ Mc Lean (Backstreet Boys)

“Addiction is a real thing, it really is,” McLean told TMZ when asked about Payne’s death. “I’ve been through it, and fortunately, I came out the other end. But I’m one of few.” (ABC News reported on October 21 that Payne — who had revealed he was 100 days sober in 2023 — had multiple drugs in his system prior to his death.)

“He was just an absolute light. He was an absolute sweetheart,” McLean went on to gush. “He was funny, lighthearted. We really got to know each other very, very quickly. We had a lot of similarities. We had a lot of things, a lot of stories to talk about.”

Backstreet Boys

“Words can not [sic] express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat,” McLean and his bandmates Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough, shared in a statement via the group’s Instagram Story. “Our hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends, and directioners around the world. Rest in peace brother.’

Lance Bass (‘NSync)

“My thoughts and [prayers] with the family, friends and fans💔,” Bass wrote via his Instagram Story.

JC Chasez (‘NSync)

“I will miss you my friend,” Chasez, who cowrote Payne’s final song “Teardops,” wrote via his Instagram Story, “My heart is with your family.”

Chris Kirkpatrick (‘NSync)

“So sad to hear the news about this amazing young talent, my heart goes out to his family and fans around the world,” Kirkpatrick captioned an Instagram pic of Payne. “Rest easy young Liam.”

Chris Kirkpatrick.

‘NSync

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Liam Payne,” the group — including members Justin Timberlake and Joey Fatone — wrote in an Instagram Story statement. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. Sending our love, JC, Joey, Lance, Chris & Justin.”

5 Seconds of Summer

Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Michael Clifford and Calum Hood paid tribute to Payne by sharing a pic of themselves with One Direction during the 2013 Take Me Home Tour. “We are heartbroken. We love you, Liam, and we will never forget the influence you had on our lives,” the members shared in an Instagram Story message. “You truly believed in us and for that we are forever grateful. We don’t know if we thanked you enough.”

The foursome recalled Payne being “so kind,” stating that “it was a honor to begin our journey with you.”

They concluded their tribute on a heartfelt note, writing, “There was such a bright light in you, we always saw that. We are sad, devastated that this world put that light out. We hope you’ll always be singing up there.”

Robbie Williams (Take That)

Williams recalled acting as a mentor to Payne and the One Direction members on The X Factor in a lengthy Instagram tribute. “They were all cheeky and lovely. I enjoyed the light hearted piss takery and thought about all the times I was that cheeky pisstaker with the Popstars that had gone before me when I was in Take That,” he shared. “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.”

He went on to remind fans to be kind to each other, stating, “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.”

Max George (The Wanted)

“Devastated. Liam was unbelievably supportive during one of the most difficult times in my life. I will never forget that,” The Wanted alum captioned a black-and-white photo of Payne via X. “My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans at this horrendous time. Rest in peace Liam.”

Mikey Graham (Boyzone)

Graham called Payne’s passing “such tragic news” via X, adding, “I think it would be a wise move for record companies to have psychologists on their books from now on in his memory as a duty of care for the vulnerability of their young talent. Fame can be very damaging especially in today’s world. Lots of money. Nobody to help. Lots of yes people. Nobody honest🙏🏻.”

Corbyn Besson (Why Don’t We)

Besson wrote that Payne’s death left him speechless in an X post, which featured a pic of himself with Payne and some of his Why Don’t We bandmates. “[I] looked up to 1D so much during the wdw days. you really never know when it’s your time to go,” he wrote, adding, “Remind your friends/family that you love them today and every day.”

Marvin Humes (JLS)

“I first met Liam in 2008 with the JLS boys whilst auditioning for X Factor. He was 14 years old. We instantly clicked and looked at him as a little brother,” Humes captioned a sweet snap of himself and Payne via Instagram. “That year it worked out for us but not for him and then 2 years later he went back to audition and One Direction was born … the rest is history.”

He continued: “Absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news. Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro. [I] just can’t believe that things have ended this way. It’s shocking. My thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends brother. RIP 🖤.”