RITA Ora fought back tears in a heartbreaking live tribute to Liam Payne during a Japan gig last night. Singer Rita , 33, struggled to contain her emotions while performing her 2018 duet with Liam , For You, at Zepp Namba in Osaka - their track for Fifty Shades Freed. Just hours after his sudden passing, The Masked Singer judge attempted to sing the tune to the crowd, asking them to raise their hands in his memory.
She sat down on the stage with a photo of herself and Liam displayed behind her - but stopped halfway through the song and walked off altogether. "I can't even sing this right now," she told the audience, visibly emotional. In several videos posted to X, formerly known as Twitter , by fans, Rita can be seen holding back tears, putting her hands to her face.
read more on RITA Ora She also approached the front of the stage, shook her head, and appeared to apologize to fans, saying, "I'm sorry." Rita and Liam had a close friendship and were often seen at public events, including Paris Fashion Week in 2019. In 2021, he and his former fiancée Maya Henry even moved into her £3.
25 million penthouse in west London. Following the concert, Rita addressed Liam's death on social media, sharing memories of their time together and expressing her heartbreak. Most read in Showbiz She wrote: “I’m devastated.
He had the kindest soul, I will never forget. I loved working with him so much – he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage. This tragic news breaks my heart.