Zayn Malik postpones United States leg of his first solo tour after ‘heartbreaking loss’ of Liam Payne

Zayn Malik has postponed the entire United States leg of his new tour just days before it was due to kick off in San Francisco.

The former One Direction star, 31, made the announcement in a heartbreaking message shared to his 54 million Instagram followers in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“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,” Malik wrote on his Instagram Story.

Watch the video above.

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Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Liam Payne

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“The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days,” he continued.

“Your tickets remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for understanding.”

Malik’s Stairway to the Sky Tour – the first solo tour of his career, which sold out almost immediately – was announced in September, and was set to kick off in the United States on Wednesday before moving to the United Kingdom.

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His postponement of course comes days after his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne died aged 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony.

One day after Payne’s shock death, Malik took to Instagram to remember his former bandmate, alluding to their complicated relationship in his emotional tribute.

“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” Malik wrote alongside a photo of him and Payne sleeping while on the road together.

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Zayn Malik

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“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr 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,” Malik’s message continued.

“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f–ks 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.”

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“When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional,” Malik’s message continued.

“I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.

“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.

“I 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.

“I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and at peace 🙏🏽 and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”

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