British singer Rita Ora broke down on stage while performing a track she recorded with late One Direction singer Liam Payne.
Ora’s appearance came just hours after Payne was confirmed to have died at just 31-years-old, after he fell from a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The pop star, who is married to movie director Taika Waititi, was on stage in Osaka, Japan, when she became emotional while singing the duet she’d previously recorded with Payne, titled ‘For You’.
Ora and Payne collaborated on the track in 2018 (Instagram/@ritaora)
In a clear tribute to Payne, Ora performed in front of an image of herself and Payne, which was projected above the stage behind her.
However, she soon became too emotional to continue and put her head into her hands as she turned away from the crowd.
Ora then looked up towards the sky, saying: “I can’t even sing this right now.”
See footage from the performance below:
For You (With Rita Ora)
リアム・ペイン，リタ・オラ
先程終わった大阪公演 の映像を拾う。
悲しみの中ほとんど歌えなかったみたい。@RitaOra @LiamPayne @liampaynejp
本日の大阪公演 #リタオラ はこの曲を歌えるのか？ 追悼の言葉とか思い出話はあるのか？ #RITAORA #ritaora pic.twitter.com/b58a71caYu
— 肉 Jason 24 (@nikuniku2424241) October 17, 2024
Payne and Ora recorded their track for the soundtrack to the 2018 movie Fifty Shades Freed.
The pair also had shared experiences thanks to their respective time spent on the British version of The X Factor, where Payne found fame as a teenager and on which Ora acted as a judge in 2015.
Ora shared fond memories of her time spent working with Payne in a post shared on Instagram after her gig, which featured the same image of Payne and Ora that had been projected over the stage.
Alongside the image, Ora wrote: “I’m devastated. He had the kindest soul, I will never forget.”
Ora described Payne as the ‘kindest soul’ ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Ora’s statement continued: “I loved working with him so much – he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage. This tragic news breaks my heart.
“Sending all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Our song For You takes on a whole new meaning for me now. R.I.P”
Payne was found to have suffered ‘injuries that were incompatible with life’ when he fell from the balcony, according to the head of the state emergency medical system, Alberto Crescenti.
His injuries meant Payne could not be resurrected.
A subsequent autopsy carried out on his body found that the singer had suffered injuries which led to ‘internal and external hemorrhaging’, according to a report from the Sun.
Two forensic pathologists in Buenos Aires carried out the post-mortem today (October 17), and have been in contact with the Argentinian police regarding their findings.