Rita Ora has shared how she continues to feel the presence of her late friend, Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October 2022. The former One Direction star died at the age of 31 after a fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina. Ora, 34, has expressed that she frequently sings their duet, “For You,” from the soundtrack of the 2018 film Fifty Shades Freed, as a way to keep his memory alive.
In a recent interview with Elvis Duran on The Morning Show, Ora confirmed her plans to watch Payne’s final project, the Netflix series Building the Band. She stated, “I 100 per cent will watch it. That’s a really great friend of mine. I still sort of feel him anyway, so it’s fine.”
Ora reflected on the significance of their collaboration, highlighting that she sings their last song together “all the time.” She described the experience as feeling like he is “just right there.” Through music, she believes it is possible to reconnect with those who have passed. “That’s why music is so powerful. It really does bring back a person, a memory, a feeling,” she said.
The impact of Payne’s passing was also felt during the MTV EMA Awards in November 2022, where Ora hosted the event just a month after his death. During the ceremony, held in Manchester, she delivered a heartfelt tribute to Payne, saying, “I just want to take a moment to remember someone that was very, very dear to us. We lost him recently, and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world.”
She continued, “Liam Payne was one of the kindest people that I knew. He had the biggest heart; he was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could.” Ora emphasized the joy Payne brought to every room he entered and the lasting mark he left on the world.
As fans remember Payne through his music, Ora’s tribute serves as a reminder of the strong connections that can persist even after a loved one’s passing. Her dedication to honoring his memory through song illustrates how profound the impact of friendship and music can be.
