Robbie Williams has penned a candid statement regarding the death of Liam Payne, comparing the similar mental health struggles he also faced at the height of his fame.
Former Take That star Williams, 50, also shared on his Instagram a touching message exchange between himself and Payne, 31, from 2022 along with a message urging people to “be kind”.
Next to the touching message exchange, he wrote: “How to make sense of the Liam Payne tragedy?
“Obviously, my first feelings towards his passing were like everyone else. Shock, sadness and confusion. And to be honest as I write these words that’s where I still am.
He wrote: “I met the boys on The X Factor and ‘mentored’ them. I use the word mentored in inverted brackets cos I hardly did anything to be honest.
“I just hung out with them. They were all cheeky and lovely. I enjoyed the light hearted p*** takery and thought about all the times I was that cheeky p***taker with the Popstars that had gone before me when I was in Take That.”
Robbie Williams shared a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne
Getty
The post continued: “Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did.”
He went on to explained people should reserve judgement on people they don’t know, urging those making comments online to “think” before they post.
“I still had my demons at 31,” he continued. “I relapsed. I was in pain. I was in pain because I relapsed. I relapsed because of a multitude of painful reasons.
“I remember Heath Ledger passing and thinking ‘I’m next’.’ By the grace of god and/or dumb luck I’m still here.”
Williams highlighted similarities between himself and Payne
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He encouraged followers to “be kinder” and “more empathetic”.
“What a Handsome Talented boy. What a tragic painful loss for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the energy this moment has created – The World,” he added, concluding the post: “Be Kind”. (sic)
The message exchange he shared in the photo showed him telling Payne he was “proud” of him.
Williams has been candid in the past about his own mental health struggles with agoraphobia, anxiety and depression.
He has also experienced several stints in rehab after taking “heart-stopping” amounts of drugs.
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The shocking news came on Wednesday night, with police in Buenos Aires say that responders initially arrived at the hotel in response to reports “of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.
Alberto Crescenti, the city’s ambulance service provider spokesman, told the media: “The alarm was raised at 5″04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.
“At 5″11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.
“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”
“Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal.
“There was no possibility of resuscitating him.”
The last 24 hours saw several tear-jerking statements made by several famous faces and Payne’s fellow One Direction bandmates.