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Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, formerly of the pop group One Direction, said in a statement released on Thursday that they were “completely devastated” by the death of their former bandmate Liam Payne, whom they called their “brother.” called.

“The memories we shared with him will be remembered forever. At this time, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and the fans who loved him by our side,” Styles, Horan, Malik and Tomlinson said in a joint statement posted to the band's Instagram page on Thursday. “We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam.”

Her statement continued: “As time goes on and everyone is able, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved very much.”

Tomlinson also paid separate tribute to Payne, writing on his Instagram page on Thursday that he was “beyond devastated” by the loss of Payne, whom he called “a brother.”

“Liam was someone I looked up to every day, such a positive, fun and kind soul,” Tomlinson wrote. “And for the record, in my opinion Liam was the most important part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us, Liam.”

Tomlinson ended his tribute with a moving mention of Payne's son in a portion of his statement in which he addressed his former bandmate directly.

“I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me, I will be the uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories about how great his dad was,” he wrote.

Payne died on Wednesday after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.

According to police in Buenos Aires, police investigations into the circumstances of his death are still ongoing.

One Direction was formed in 2010 by producer Simon Cowell, who noticed the musical talents of Payne, Styles, Malik, Tomlinson and Horan when they auditioned for the British version of The X-Factor.

The group enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, becoming the first band to have their first four albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Known for hits such as “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Best Song Ever” and “Story of My Life,” the group remains one of the best-selling boy bands of all time and has sold more than 70 million records worldwide.

Malik left the group in 2015, leading to the announcement that One Direction would be taking an “indefinite hiatus” the following year. All five former members pursued solo careers, including Payne, who released his latest single, “Teardrops,” in March.

As their friendships evolved over the years, Payne made an effort to stay in touch with his former bandmates, even as he struggled with addiction and his mental health, which he had previously spoken openly about.

During his struggles, Payne said “all the guys” were there to support him.

“I've been going through a pretty dark time in my life at the moment and to be honest, I wouldn't be here without the boys,” Payne told On Demand Entertainment in a red carpet interview at Tomlinson's All Of Those Voices. ” Documentary premiered last year.

Just weeks before his death, Payne was seen in Argentina attending Horan's concert and posting videos of himself dancing and singing along to his Snapchat page.

His supporters around the world have paid tribute and tributes to Payne.

Fans have left notes and flowers at the iconic red telephone box at the Hard Rock Café in Picadilly Circus that was used on the cover image of One Direction's album “Take Me Home,” The Independent reported Thursday.

According to British news agency PA Media, Payne's family had previously said in a statement that they were “heartbroken” over his death.

“Liam will live forever in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” the statement said. “We support each other as a family as best we can and ask for privacy and space during this terrible time.”

On Thursday, “Britain's Got Talent,” a U.K.-based talent competition show that Cowell co-created and on which he serves as a judge, postponed auditions following Payne's death, Fremantle UK, the production company overseeing the show, said in a statement .

“Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and everyone who loved him,” the statement said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.