The star had previously postponed the U.S. leg of the tour following Payne’s death.
Zayn Malik officially kicked off his Stairway to the Sky Tour on November 23, 2024, at the O2 Academy in Leeds with a tribute to late One Direction member Liam Payne, who died this past October in Argentina.
During the tour’s opening night on British soil, Zayn Malik projected a tribute to the late star on stage. “Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro,” a simple graphic read alongside a heart.
Tribute to Liam Payne during Zayn’s performance at O2 Academy Leeds on November 23, 2024.
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The U.K. leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour was originally scheduled to begin in Edinburgh on November 20. However, on November 15, Malik announced the first two stops in Edinburgh would be rescheduled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
On November 20, the date the first Edinburgh show was originally scheduled for, Malik and the rest of the One Direction members gathered at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, South England, for Payne’s funeral. Aside from the 1D members, other stars, including Payne’s ex Cheryl and late-night host James Corden, were also in attendance.
Zayn Malik at Liam Payne’s funeral service in St Mary’s Church on November 20, 2024.
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One day after the show, Malik took to Instagram to share pictures from the Leeds show, where he notably performed “Pillowtalk” live for the first time ever. “Thanks LEEDS!! for an amazing first night!” the star wrote. The post marked Malik’s first post on the app since his tribute to Payne shortly after his death, whose caption (“Love You Bro ❤️”) mirrored the concert tribute.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life,” Malik wrote to Payne in the second slide. “When I was missing home as a [17-year-old] kid, you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved. Even though you were younger than me, you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f*cks about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”
Zayn Malik performing at the O2 Academy in Leeds on November 23, 2024.
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“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,” he continued. “Will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.”
Shortly after posting the tribute, Malik announced his decision to postpone the U.S. leg of his tour in the wake of Payne’s passing. “Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the U.S. leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour,” he wrote on Instagram. The shows, originally planned for October and early November, have been rescheduled for January 2025.
