Ruth Gibbons, the sister of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, has spoken out after his sudden and tragic death. Payne, 31, passed away on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. His death has shocked and saddened his family, friends, and fans around the world.
Ruth shared an emotional message on Instagram, expressing her grief and love for her brother. “I can’t believe this is real,” she wrote, along with pictures of them together. “Liam was my best friend. No one could make me laugh like he did.”
She remembered how close they were, especially during the early days of Liam’s music career. Liam left home at 17 to follow his dream of becoming a singer. Ruth explained that she got her driver’s license so she could visit him during The X Factor live shows. “I couldn’t stand the thought of not being able to see him,” she said. She often drove to have tea with him after work, just to spend time together.
Liam loved music and his band, One Direction. “He loved 1D, and we talked about it all the time. He would play me songs that were never released, and we’d have our own little One Direction concerts,” she wrote.
Ruth is struggling to cope with her brother’s sudden death. “I don’t understand where you’ve gone. I just want to drive to your house and find you sitting there with music playing, writing songs, or working on your art.”
She also shared how Liam often didn’t believe in himself, despite his success. “You never thought you were good enough,” she said. “I hope you can now see all the love people had for you.”
Ruth ended her tribute by talking about Liam’s young son, Bear. “We will take care of Bear, and he will always know how amazing his dad was and how much you adored him. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”
Liam Payne’s death has left a deep sadness in the music world, and Ruth’s message shows just how much he meant to those who loved him.
