Zayn Malik had a familiar face in the audience at his highly anticipated concert on Wednesday, January 29, at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles. Former One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson was in attendance, showing his support just three months after their fellow bandmate, Liam Payne, tragically passed away.
"Tonight's something special. An old friend of mine is here for me tonight," Malik, 32, told the crowd, as seen in a fan video shared via X (formerly Twitter). The audience cheered as he continued, "I don't want to give his location away, but Louis is here tonight."
Tomlinson, 33, was spotted in a box seat at the venue, tapping his heart to appreciate Malik's words. To honor his former bandmate's presence, Malik dedicated two songs—"What I Am" and "Alienated"—to Tomlinson, saying, "Let's make these last couple of songs special for Louis, yeah?"
According to reports from The Mirror, the pair were later seen leaving the venue together and entering a waiting Cadillac. Their last public sighting was at Payne's funeral in Buckinghamshire, England, in November 2024, where they reunited with Harry Styles and Niall Horan to pay their respects.
Honoring Liam Payne's Legacy at the Brit Awards
As the music industry continues to mourn the loss of Liam Payne, UK media reports suggest that the upcoming Brit Awards will feature a heartfelt tribute to the late singer. The Sun revealed that producers are planning an emotional segment to honor Payne, a regular at the prestigious awards ceremony as a solo artist and with One Direction.
Speculation is mounting that the tribute could bring together Styles, Tomlinson, Horan, and Malik for a historic on-stage reunion, marking their first performance together in over a decade. A source told The Sun, "The tribute to Liam at this year's awards show has caused a real buzz and speculation that the remaining One Direction bandmates could finally come back together again on stage. It would be an entirely fitting way to honor Liam, and talks are already underway about how to make this segment of the Brits unforgettable."
A Devastating Loss for the One Direction Family
Payne's death on October 16, 2024, shook the music industry and devastated fans worldwide. The 31-year-old singer fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, and an autopsy later confirmed a combination of alcohol, prescription medication, and drugs contributed to his passing. Authorities arrested three individuals in connection with supplying narcotics to Payne.
In November, Styles, Tomlinson, Malik, and Horan came together for an intimate funeral service in Amersham, England. The emotional farewell included a white horse-drawn carriage carrying Payne's casket, a touching tribute to his English roots and the love that surrounded him.
Following his passing, the surviving members released a joint statement: "The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. 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."
As the Brit Awards tribute looms, fans hope it will serve as a fitting and emotional celebration of Payne's legacy, bringing together the bandmates who once ruled the charts.