When stars gathered to pay tribute to Liam Payne at his funeral one celebrity was noticeably absent.
Payne, who rose to international fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, tragically died last month at age 31.
Following the star’s death, his heartbroken family released a statement through a spokesperson.
It read: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.”
Liam Payne’s funeral was held one month after his tragic death. Credit: Alamy
Payne’s former bandmates issued a joint statement, mourning the loss of their ‘brother.’
The singer died after falling from a hotel balcony on Wednesday, October 16, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He was visiting the country to attend a concert by his former bandmate, Niall Horan.
Alberto Crescenti, the head of Argentina’s state emergency medical system, confirmed the 31-year-old fell approximately 40 meters into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel.
An autopsy revealed that Payne suffered multiple traumas and internal bleeding, including injuries described as ‘incompatible with life.’
Toxicology results identified traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system.
Medical experts suggested Payne may have been semi or fully unconscious at the time of the fall.
Liam Payne tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony. Credit: Alamy
Argentinian authorities have charged three individuals in connection with Payne’s death.
One of his companions faces charges for ‘abandonment of a person followed by death,’ while a hotel employee and another individual have been charged with providing drugs. Their identities have not been disclosed.
Nine raids have reportedly been conducted in Buenos Aires as part of the investigation, and authorities have reviewed over 800 hours of surveillance footage from the hotel and nearby areas.
Testimonies from hotel employees, family, friends, and medical staff have also been gathered.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death remain ongoing.
Payne’s funeral took place on November 20 in Wolverhampton, U.K., one month after his tragic death.
His former bandmates, alongside other celebrities, attended the private funeral.
However, one celebrity was noticeably absent.
Stars gathered to pay tribute at Liam Payne’s funeral. Credit: Alamy
According to The Sun, Payne’s manager, Roger Nores, was ‘not welcome’ to the private ceremony due to strained relations and his involvement in an ongoing investigation into the singer’s death.
A source close to the star’s family revealed they wanted the service to proceed without any disruptions, saying: “Liam’s family want his funeral to go off without a hitch, and right now opinions are strained when it comes to Nores.”
Although Nores claims to have had a close friendship with Payne, others in the singer’s circle were reportedly unaware they had reconnected before his trip to Argentina.
Payne’s manager has denied allegations of abandonment, stating: “I never abandoned Liam… I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left.”
He added: “I wasn’t Liam’s manager. He was just my very dear friend.”
Roger Nores [far left] was reportedly ‘not welcome’ at Liam Payne’s funeral. Credit: Snapchat
However, emails seen by The Sun suggest that Nores was actively managing Payne’s career until earlier this year.
He reportedly resigned after a disagreement over a deal with Los Angeles talent agency CAA.
In the days before Payne’s death, he and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy are said to have visited Nores’ home.