Zayn Malik paid tribute on stage to  Liam Payne in his former One Direction bandmate’s hometown of Wolverhampton on Friday, saying he ‘hopes’ the late star sees his gig.

The singer, 31, kicked off his Stairway To The Sky tour in Leeds’s O2 Academy last week, with an on-stage blue screen message which read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro’ with a pink heart. 

However, he has not appeared to directly speak about Payne, who died aged 31 in Argentina last month, during the tour. 

According to social media videos, Malik told the University of Wolverhampton venue The Halls venue: ‘I’ve been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace’.

‘I hope you’re seeing this, we’re in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton, this is for you, Liam.’ 

Zayn Malik paid tribute on stage to late Liam Payne in his former One Direction bandmate’s hometown of Wolverhampton on Friday, saying he ‘hopes’ the late star sees his gig 

The singer kicked off his Stairway To The Sky tour in Leeds’s O2 Academy, with an on-stage blue screen message which read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro'(One Direction pictured 2013)

Payne died on October 16 of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires (pictured in March)

Malik rescheduled his tour’s original opening dates in Edinburgh due to Payne’s funeral, which was also attended by his fellow One Direction stars Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. 

Payne died on October 16 of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires 

He left One Direction in 2015 before the group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, with the members all going on to pursue their own solo careers. 

Following the death of Payne, Malik said he ‘never got to thank’ his fellow bandmate for supporting him through some of the ‘most difficult’ times in his life. 

‘I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly’, he added in a statement shared to Instagram.

 ‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. ‘There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. 

‘I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you, bro.’ 

Payne previously postponed the US leg of his Stairway To The Sky tour over the ‘heartbreaking loss’ of Payne.

An investigation has been launched into Payne’s death by Argentinian prosecutors and three people have been charged in connection with the incident. 

According to social media videos, Malik told the University of Wolverhampton venue The Halls venue: ‘I’ve been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace’ (pictured last week) 

Meanwhile the show ended with a backdrop which read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro,’ and a red heart’ (pictured at the Leeds show on Saturday)  

Earlier his week Zayn paid another tribute Liam as he wore one of the star’s diamond chain necklaces for his first sold out show in London on Tuesday (pictured) 

Embarking on his Stairway To The Sky tour, the dates come after Zayn postponed the first two dates of the tour in the wake of the tragic death of his bandmate 

Earlier his week Zayn paid another tribute Liam as he wore one of the star’s diamond chain necklaces for his first sold out show in London on Tuesday.

The singer was previously seen wearing the jewellery at the star’s funeral last week and continued to keep the star in his thoughts during the tour. 

Zayn looked back at home on the stage at the Eventim Apollo as he thanked fans for being patient with him, He admitted: ‘Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here.’

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Zayn Malik pays sweet tribute to Liam Payne and thanks fans for ‘waiting for him’ as he returns to London for first sold out show

Greeting the crowd on Tuesday, Zayn exclaimed: ‘Yooooo! What’s happening! What’s going on London. 

‘It f****g feels amazing to be here not going to lie. Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here so tonight I want you guys to have an amazing night, really enjoy yourself, sing along, scream. 

If people have told you to be quiet online pay them no mind at all we are here tonight we are having a good time. 

‘Have a drink, have a laugh let’s enjoy ourselves yeah.’

Embarking on his Stairway To The Sky tour, the dates come after Zayn postponed the first two dates of the tour in the wake of Liam’s tragic death.

The show ended with a backdrop which read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro,’ and a red heart. 

Later in the set Zayn asked the crowd to be mindful of other people in attendance as fans at the front were getting squished by those in the back.

He said: ‘If you’re at the back try not to push because people at the front are getting a little bit squished. 

Paying tribute to his bandmate, Zayn wore one of Liam’s diamond chain necklaces for the performance after he was previously seen wearing the jewellery at the star’s funeral last week 

Following Liam’s unexpected death aged 31 after falling from the third floor of his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last month, Zayn announced he was postponing the US dates of his tour (One Direction pictured in 2013) 

‘We’re all here to have a good time, I’m not going anywhere.  Just try not to hurt anybody. Let’s have a good time tonight.’

Liam died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina, with his One Direction bandmates seen in public together for the first time in nine years as they paid their respects at his funeral on Wednesday. 

Former bandmates Harry Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Louis Tomlinson, 32, and Zayn arrived separately at the church for a poignant final send off.

Harry dressed in black, pulled up to the funeral in a BMW, while Niall attended with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, with Zayn Malik arriving shortly after Louis.