Liam Payne’s eldest sister is grappling with the shock of his passing at the age of 31 last week.

In a heartfelt Instagram message on Monday, Nicola Payne reminisced about her younger brother, who she described as “an angel dedicated to bringing joy to others.” She also condemned “this harsh world” for ridiculing the former One Direction star in pre-death social media posts and shared her feelings about discovering his death through news reports.

“I’ve always celebrated Liam and his many accomplishments as a proud sister, and that will never change!” her message began. “When I saw the news flash on my phone that you had passed, I felt so numb, hoping it was a mistake and that someone had gotten it wrong.”

“You were truly too extraordinary for this world. You were an angel who had a passion for making people smile and be happy. Your kindness impacted everyone you encountered, evident by the many who have confirmed this!” she continued.

Nicola shared several photos capturing special moments with Liam and her family, including images of him with her 4-year-old daughter, Ffion Farnell. She noted the scarcity of their photos together, explaining their family wanted to avoid making him feel like a celebrity surrounded by fans, even though they were his biggest supporters.

“Your talent alone set you apart, but it was also your genuine self. I’ve been reflecting on the messages from the night I welcomed Ffion; your excitement to meet her, the shared laughter, and the joy you brought to our lives,” she expressed. “You lived by the principle of mastering whatever you did, and Liam, you certainly excelled at everything!”

Referring to online discussions about Liam’s dancing at Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires earlier this month, Nicola remarked, “Sadly, this harsh world is often too quick to judge based on a few brief clips and presume they understand you. We truly knew and loved you.”

She concluded with heartfelt words: “I hope you have finally found peace up there and will continue to watch over us as you did in life. We promise to tell Bear about you and how deeply you loved him. Until we meet again, Liam. Love you xx.”

Liam Payne has a 7-year-old son named Bear with his ex-girlfriend, British singer Cheryl.

Many One Direction family members expressed their sympathies in the comments section. Louis Tomlinson’s father, Mark Tomlinson, shared, “You’re in my thoughts. I’m here for you.” While Greg Horan, Niall’s older brother, added, “Nicola, I’m so sorry for your loss. You’re all in my thoughts and prayers, love to you all.”

“Sending so much love ♥️,” commented Sasha Malik, Zayn Malik’s cousin.

Liam Payne’s sister Ruth Gibbins says the world wasn’t ‘good or kind enough’ to him

Nicola’s heartfelt post followed her sister Ruth Gibbins’s earlier statement about Liam Payne’s passing. In her own message, she expressed disbelief over the loss of her younger brother.

“I can’t believe this is real,” she wrote in an Instagram post, referring to Liam as “my best friend.” She shared cherished memories of him, including times driving him home after One Direction concerts.

“Liam loved One Direction and deeply cared for his bandmates. We discussed it endlessly. He would play song after song that was recorded but not released, turning our time into mini One Direction concerts,” Gibbins reminisced. “Liam had music in his DNA. From a young age, it was obvious he’d become a star. I could listen to him sing all day, which is fortunate since he loved to entertain! I’ll always cherish the joy on his face when he introduced new songs, saying ‘listen loud’ with a proud smile.”

“I feel this world has not been good or kind to you. In recent years, you’ve endured so much, often struggling against the challenges thrown your way,” she wrote. “You just wanted love and to share happiness through your music. You never recognized your worth; I hope you can now see the love you’ve received that you missed while you were here.”

She also shared her feelings of regret, stating, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I’d travel anywhere in the universe to bring you back.”

On Friday, Liam’s father, Geoff Payne, went to the hotel in Buenos Aires where Liam was found deceased after a fall from a third-floor balcony, according to Argentine authorities. Reports from BBC and Sky News mentioned he visited a memorial created by fans and earlier met with officials to identify his son at the morgue.

Since Liam Payne’s death on October 16, tributes have been flowing in from all over the globe, including heartfelt messages from his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

“We’re heartbroken by the news of Liam’s passing,” stated a joint message shared on One Direction’s previously dormant Instagram account. “As time passes, and when everyone is ready, we will share more. For now, we will take some time to mourn and come to terms with the loss of our brother, whom we cherished deeply. The moments we had with him will remain precious to us always.”

Each band member also shared personal reflections, expressing their sorrow at losing their “beloved friend” and “brother.”

After posting, “I lost a brother when you left us” on Instagram, Malik decided to delay the U.S. portion of his upcoming tour.