Louis Tomlinson called the late Liam Payne “ the most vital part of One Direction ” in a heartfelt tribute to his bandmate, who died yesterday afternoon at the age of 31. Tomlinson was the first member of the British boy band to post a reaction to Payne’s death, and you can read his full statement below.

Louis Tomlinson is mourning former One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, after Payne's tragic death on Wednesday, Oct. 16. " I wish I got [the] chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you,