Liam Payne‘ sister Ruth has shared a heart-wrenching open letter to the late singer where she promised to help raise his son Bear, seven, and hinted at the inner demons of the star who ‘just wanted to be loved’
Liam Payne’s sister Ruth has spoken out for the first time about his death, delivering a heartbreaking message saying she was “sorry I couldn’t save you”. She understood the tragic events of the week and just wanted to “go to her brother’s house and talk to him”.
“Just know one last time, if you ever need anything I’m here for you and I’d drive to the ends of the universe to get you back”, she said.
In her open letter to Liam, Ruth said she knew Liam “never believed he was good enough”. Ruth said Liam just wanted to be loved and make people happy with his music.
“I had to really push myself to overcome everything that was targeted at me,” she said in the heartbreaking post.
Liam died on Wednesday, aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, where he was flying to support One Direction star Niall Horan on tour. His father, Jeff Payne, was seen arriving at the Casa Sur hotel on Friday and later poring over a pile of cards and letters from fans that had been left on his doorstep.
Liam had a deep bond with his family, and spoke fondly of his sisters, Ruth and Nicola, as “lifelong friends”.
Earlier this week, Liam’s parents left their family home in Wolverhampton and flew to Buenos Aires to begin the process of repatriating their son.
Sister Ruth spoke out about the loss for the first time, posting a heartfelt tribute to her “brother and best friend” on Instagram.
Ruth wrote: “Liam, my brain is struggling to process what has happened and I can’t understand where you have gone. “I just want to drive over to your house and come over with music blasting and find you writing songs or getting into your artistic phase and sit with me while you paint or craft.”
She continued, “The thing about your love is your ability to make me laugh. I’ve never laughed this much in front of you. I’m always impressed with your talent. It should be illegal to be so talented and not only good at things, but so excellent at everything you try without knowing that you’ll succeed every time.”
“I love your kindness and I’m so proud to call you my brother and best friend. “Sunday dinner sounds good too!” she joked.
“I don’t think the world was ever good or kind enough to accept you and you had to push yourself pretty hard these last few years to overcome everything that was thrown at you. You just wanted to be loved and make it yourself” To those who are happy with your music, you never thought you were good enough but I hope now you can see the expressions of love that you didn’t receive at that age.”
“Thank you for changing my life, thank you for the wonderful memories and thank you for being the best brother and friend I’ve ever had! We will take good care of Bear and he will always know what a great father he is and how amazing he is” You love him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I love you and oh my God I miss you so much, Ru xxx,” she wrote, before adding, “One last time, just know that if you ever need anything I’m here and I’d drive to the ends of the universe to get you back.”
It was revealed earlier this week that Liam had been fired by his record company just days before his death and had split with his longtime publicity manager in recent months. Fans had accused him of “erratic” behaviour in recent weeks after he was spotted appearing in good spirits at Niall Horan concerts and in various Snapchat videos.
Ruth’s statement came after her father was spotted outside the Casa Sur hotel in Argentina. The grieving father was seen accepting an overwhelming number of tributes from fans.
Jeff Payne was photographed wearing a navy blue suit as he left the Casa Sur hotel in the Argentine capital, where the 31-year-old British star fell from a third-floor balcony on Wednesday.
Mr Payne is said to have flown into the country to arrange for his son’s repatriation, reported the Associated Press.
Mr Payne was seen attending a memorial left by fans outside the hotel, reading letters and standing around flowers, photos and candles.
Earlier, the singer’s family said they were “heartbroken” by his death, adding: “Liam will live forever in our hearts, and we will never forget his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Girls Aloud singer Cheryl has expressed concerns about protecting her seven-year-old son, whom she had with Payne, following her highly publicised relationship with him from 2016 to 2018.
“As we process this earth-shattering event and try to process our own grief during this indescribably difficult time, I want to gently remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Sharing a black-and-white photo of Payne lying in bed with his baby son Bear, she added, “Liam was more than just a pop star or a celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a companion,” and is father to a 7-year-old son.
“A son who must face the reality that he will never see his father again.”
The 41-year-old ended his statement by asking people to grant Mr Payne “what little dignity he has left in his death so that he may finally rest in peace”.
Her statement came after Mr Payne’s friend Kate Cassidy said she felt “completely lost” after his death. “Nothing has felt real these past few days,” she said in a post on her Instagram Story. “Liam, my angel, you are everything. I want you to know that I loved you unconditionally and completely.” I will love you forever. Love you, Liam.”
Meanwhile, music mogul Simon Cowell said he was “absolutely devastated” after Liam’s death, adding that he also felt “heartbroken” and “empty”.
Payne rose to fame alongside Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles when X Factor creator Cowell brought the trio together to form One Direction in 2010 on ITV talent show.
“Every tear I shed is for you,” he wrote in a statement on Instagram. The 65-year-old music mogul said his son Bear would be “so proud of all you have achieved and how you have achieved it.”
Payne first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, aged 14, singing Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon”. Judge Cowell advised him to take part in the talent show two years later.
In 2010, he was sent to the bootcamp stage of the competition along with four other solo contestants (the group that would later become One Direction) after impressing the judges with his rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Cry Me a River”.
“When you were 14, I had to tell you it wasn’t time yet, and we both promised to meet again. Many people would have given up. “You weren’t,” Cowell said.
He also said Payne visited him last year, where he “reminisced about the good times we had together. After you were gone, I remembered that you were still the sweet, lovely boy I met all those years ago,” he added.
This comes after Horan became the latest bandmate to release a moving tribute, saying he would “forever cherish every moment” he spent with Payne.
Payne was spotted dancing at Horan’s show at Movistar Arena in Argentina with his girlfriend Cassidy about two weeks ago.