AS TRAGIC LIAM PAYNE IS REMEMBERED - RITA ORA WOWS IN 11 OUTFITS AS SHE HOSTS THE M.T.V. EUROPEAN MUSIC AWARDS

'Liam Payne was one of the kindest people I knew. He had the biggest heart and left such a mark on the world' - Rita Ora

- LAURA BENJAMIN

On a night when the most talented names in pop were celebrated, there was one person at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts: Liam Payne.

At this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards, held-in Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, stars including the evening’s host Rita Ora paid tribute to the former One Direction star, who died aged 31 last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

Looking emotional as she tried to hold back tears, Rita introduced a video montage of Liam with some heartfelt words.

MOVING TRIBUTE

Rita – who sang with Liam on their 2018 single For You – told the crowd: “I want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us.

“He was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight.

“Liam Payne was one of the kindest people I knew. He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way he could. He brought joy to every room he walked into and left such a mark on the world.”

Her voice breaking, she finished with the words: “So let’s take a moment to remember our friend Liam,” while a video played to the sounds of One Direction’s Night Changes, to which many of the audience sang along.

For the tribute, Rita, who brought along her film-maker husband Taika Waititi and her mother Vera as her dates, changed into a smart black trouser suit – just one of the 11 outfits she wore to host the ceremony for the third time.