Liam Payne’s sister says world wasn’t ‘good enough or kind enough’ to him

Ruth Gibbins describes 31-year-old, who died in Argentina on Wednesday, as ‘the best brother and friend I’ll ever have’

Liam Payne’s sister said the world wasn’t “good enough or kind enough” to him as she paid tribute to him on Saturday.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Saturday, Ruth Gibbins said the 31-year-old, who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina on Wednesday, “had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed” at him over the last few years.
It comes after their father, Geoff Payne, was in Buenos Aires to arrange the repatriation of the former One Direction singer’s body.
Mrs Gibbins wrote: “My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone. What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I’m with you with anyone else.
“I’m always in awe of your talent, it should be illegal to be so talented and just have the ability to not only be good at things but be bloody great at everything you attempt, without even knowing you’re absolutely smashing it each time.
“I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you.
“You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time. Thank you for changing my life, thank you for the incredible memories, thank you for being the best brother and friend I’ll ever have.”
Geoff Payne was seen visiting tributes to his son laid by fans outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, reading letters and pausing to look at flowers, photographs and candles.
The singer’s family said they were “heartbroken” following his death, adding: “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Simon Cowell, the impresario and X Factor TV show creator, said he was “truly devastated” after the death of the singer, adding that he felt “heartbroken” and “empty”.
Zayn Malik has announced that he will reschedule his tour following the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.
He wrote on X: “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the Stairway To The Sky Tour.
“The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for your understanding.”
Payne found fame with Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles when Cowell put them together to form One Direction on the ITV talent show in 2010. “Every tear I have shed is a memory of you,” Cowell wrote on Instagram.
Payne first auditioned for the X Factor in 2008 when he was 14, singing the Frank Sinatra hit Fly Me to the Moon, with judge Cowell telling him to return to the show two years later.
“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t,” Cowell wrote.
He added that Payne had visited him last year where they “reminisced about all of the fun times we had together”. He added: “After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago.”
Horan said in a tribute that he would “cherish every moment” he had with Payne “forever”.
Payne was seen dancing at Horan’s show about two weeks ago at the Movistar Arena with his girlfriend Cassidy in Argentina.
The singer died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, a post-mortem examination found.
Argentina’s national criminal and correctional prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death” following the report.