"Not everyone got to know the boy behind the popstar" - Liam Payne's musician cousin pays heartfelt tribute in wake of singer's death

Following One Direction singer Liam Payne's death on October 16, 2024, his family, friends, and millions of fans worldwide rushed to social media to pay their tribute. Recently, Liam's cousin, Ross Harris, a composer and musician, has also paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

In an Instagram post on October 21, Harris remembered Liam not only as a popular pop musician but also as the cousin he grew up with. As their relationship became closer, Harris reflected on the private moments he had shared with Liam in the previous months and recalled their late-night songwriting sessions.

Talking about it further, Harris wrote,

"I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with you over the last few months, we'd become close again like the kids we were growing up together."

He further talked about the person he knew behind the public persona and continued,

"Not everyone got to know the boy behind the popstar, outside of stadiums and studios, but I count myself very lucky that I did."

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Liam Payne's brother recently paid tribute to the late singer

Liam Payne died last week (Image via Getty/Dave J Hogan)

Singer Liam Payne's cousin, Ross Harris, is honoring the late One Direction member on Instagram. He said that Harris found the memories of their time together emotional and special. He talked about how they would have a great time together and laugh a lot despite Liam often forgetting about timeline differences.

Harris remembered the simple pleasures of childhood, like doing impressions and simply spending time together. Just days after Payne passed away on Wednesday, October 16, Ross wrote his Instagram tribute and started by saying,

"My young cousin. I've been trying to write something for a few days now, it still doesn't feel real and probably never will…. Late night songwriting sessions, making plans to tour and travel, and practicing stupid impressions - we didn't need much to have a good time."

Harris reflected on the more profound struggles Liam endured. Although Harris wasn't scared to acknowledge Liam's struggles, he emphasized the singer's determination to help others despite his hardships. He then wrote,

"No matter what he was going through or the demons he was fighting, Liam Payne always wanted to help others."

Harris also mentioned their travel and tour plans, which were suddenly canceled but served as a reminder of their aspirations for the future. He continued,

"It's devastating to know I won't see you again or wake up to a late night FaceTime call (when you'd forget about the time difference) but we made a lot of memories which I'll hold on to forever. From being 13 years old learning Maroon 5 songs to bumping into you backstage at music festivals, we were always just a couple of kids hanging out."

He then added,

"Regardless of what you were going through, and the demons you were fighting, you always wanted to help others and wanted everyone to 'win together'. Hopefully the world will remember this above everything else."

According to Us Weekly's October 17 article, Payne passed away on Wednesday, October 16, at 31. The source further said that, per the Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti, Liam Payne received "serious injuries" after falling from a third-story balcony of a hotel in Bueno Aires, Argentina.

On the other hand, according to the BBC's October 17 report, a 911 call from the day of Payne's death states that a hotel receptionist reported a visitor who was "trashing" their room and "high on drugs" to the police. The receptionist further mentioned that the visitor "may be in danger."

Citing a partial autopsy it claimed to have obtained, ABC News said on Monday, October 21, that Liam Payne had cocaine, crack, benzodiazepines, and "pink cocaine," a recreational drug that usually combines methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA, in his system at the time of his death.

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Apart from his parents and sister, Liam Payne is survived by his son Bear, who he shares with former partner Cheryl.