Robbie Williams has expressed his heartfelt condolences for Liam Payne, whom he described as a “handsome, talented boy” while sharing what seems to be one of their last email exchanges.
The 50-year-old ‘Angels’ singer opened up about his feelings of “shock, sadness and confusion” following the news of Liam’s sudden death at just 31-years-old.
He reflected on how Liam’s “trials and tribulations were very similar” to his own experiences.
The music world and celebrities alike have been paying their respects to Liam after he tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Liam shot to stardom with One Direction, who became an international phenomenon after placing third on The X Factor in 2010.
Robbie, who similarly found fame in a boyband with Take That, took to Instagram on Friday morning to share his thoughts on Liam’s untimely passing and discuss his own battles with addiction over the years.
Alongside a sketch of an email conversation that appears to be between him and Liam, Robbie paid homage on Instagram, reports the Mirror.
In a detailed caption, Robbie started: “How to make sense of the Liam Payne tragedy?” He continued: “Obviously, my first feelings towards his passing were like everyone else. Shock, sadness and confusion. And to be honest as I write these words that’s where I still am.”
He went on to say: “I met the boys on The X Factor and ‘mentored’ them. I use the word mentored in inverted brackets cos I hardly did anything to be honest. I just hung out with them. They were all cheeky and lovely.
“I enjoyed the light hearted piss takery and Thought about all the times I was that cheeky pisstaker with the Popstars that had gone before me when I was in Take That.
“Our paths have crossed ever since that day and I’m fond of them all. Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did.”
Robbie then urged his followers to show compassion, writing: “I guess in these moments it’s worth repeating – WE DON’T KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. WHAT PAIN THEY’RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT MAKES THEM BEHAVE IN THE WAY THAT THEY BEHAVE. BEFORE WE REACH TO JUDGEMENT, A BIT OF SLACK NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
“BEFORE YOU TYPE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET, HAVE A THINK ”DO I REALLY NEED TO PUBLISH THIS?” BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE DOING. YOU’RE PUBLISHING YOUR THOUGHTS FOR ANYBODY TO READ. EVEN IF YOU DON’T REALLY THINK THAT CELEBRITIES OR THEIR FAMILIES EXIST. THEY F***ING DO. SKIN AND BONE AND IMMENSELY SENSITIVE.”
Robbie then opened up about his own struggles with addiction, revealing that he had relapsed at the age of 31 and was in immense pain.
The singer, who has been sober for over two decades, shared: “I still had my demons at 31. I relapsed. I was in pain. I was in pain because I relapsed. I relapsed because of a multitude of painful reasons. I remember Heath Ledger passing and thinking ”I’m next”. By the grace of god and/or dumb luck I’m still here.
“The internet will unfortunately carry on being the internet. The media will unfortunately carry on being the media and fame will carry on being fame. As individuals though we have the power to change ourselves. We can be kinder. We can be more empathic.
“We can at least try to be more compassionate towards ourselves, our family, our friends, strangers in life and strangers on the internet.”
Robbie concluded his heartfelt tribute to Liam with: “Even famous strangers need your compassion. What a Handsome Talented boy. What a tragic painful loss for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the energy this moment has created – The World. Be Kind.”
Following Liam’s passing on Wednesday, five witnesses were questioned to piece together the events leading up to his death, according to the prosecutor’s office.
It was reported that hotel staff made two emergency calls, with audio recordings revealing a staff member requesting assistance for a guest who was “intoxicated by drugs and alcohol”.
The hotel room of the music star was described by police as being “in complete disarray” with “various items broken”.
They also found a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone in the internal courtyard where his body was discovered. Devastated fans of One Direction held a vigil outside the Argentine hotel, lighting candles and laying flowers in memory of Liam.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.