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Liam Payne’s eldest sister, Nicola Payne, is still dealing with the devastating news of his death at age 31. In a moving Instagram post on Monday, she honored her brother, describing him as “an angel who just lived for making people smile.” Nicola also expressed her anger at the harsh online reactions Liam had endured and those who ridiculed Liam in social media posts before he passed.

Nicola talked about the heartbreaking moment she learned about her brother’s death through media reports. "When I saw the news pop up on my phone that you had left us, I went cold," she said. She describes hoping that the news was somehow wrong, but sadly, it wasn't.

Nicola posted a series of family photos, including moments of Liam with her 4-year-old daughter, Ffion Farnell. "You led your life with a motto of why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it, and Liam, you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!"

The Impact of Social Media

Nicola addressed the cruel judgment her brother faced online because of his appearance at a Niall Horan concert earlier in the month. "Unfortunately, this cruel world is always quick to judge someone from a few 5-second clips," she wrote. She stated that despite the negativity, those closest to Liam truly knew and loved him.

Nicola’s post followed one from her sister, Ruth Gibbins, who was also in sorrow and disbelief. Ruth shared cherished memories of him playing unreleased One Direction songs for her. She also stated that the world wasn’t “good enough or kind enough” to Liam in light of the struggles he faced in recent years.

Family, Fans, and Former Bandmates Give Final Goodbye

Liam’s father, Geoff Payne, visited the Buenos Aires hotel where Liam tragically fell to his death from a third-floor balcony. Geoff also visited the morgue to identify his son and later paid respects at a memorial set up by fans. According to reports from Reuters, early investigations suggest that substance abuse may have been a contributing factor.

Since Liam’s passing, fans and his former One Direction bandmates have poured in heartfelt tributes. In a joint statement, the group expressed their devastation and promised to share more in time. Individually, each member also paid tribute to their beloved friend and “brother.” Zayn Malik, in particular, postponed his U.S. tour dates, expressing his grief in a moving post.