Rita Ora paid a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday night.

The 33-year-old pop star hosted the awards show at Co-op Live in Manchester and gave an emotional speech to honour the former One Direction singer, who died in October, aged 31. 

Rita – who collaborated with Liam on the 2018 single For You – broke down in tears as she said: ‘I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us. 

‘We lost him recently and 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 that I knew. He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could. 

Rita Ora paid a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday night

The 33-year-old pop star hosted the awards show at Co-op Live in Manchester, and Rita paid an emotional tribute to the former One Direction singer, who died in October, aged 31

Rita – who collaborated with Liam on the 2018 single ‘For You’ – broke down in tears as she said: ‘I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us’ (seen in 2018 together)

‘He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on the world.’

Breaking down she added: ‘So let’s just take a moment to remember our friend Liam…’

Rita previously admitted to being ‘devastated’ by Liam’s pᴀssing.

The singer took to social media in October to pay tribute to Liam, sweetly saying that he had ‘the kindest soul’.

Rita wrote on X: ‘I’m devastated [broken-heart emoji] 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. Sending all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Our song For You takes on a whole new meaning for me now. R.I.P [dove emoji] (sic)’

Rita recently paid tribute to Liam during a concert in Osaka, Japan. The singer became visibly emotional as she performed a rendition of their hit single.

Liam fell 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur H๏τel in Buenos Aires last month. 

She added: ‘We lost him recently and 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’

Rita continued: ‘Liam Payne was one of the kindest people that I knew. He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could’

Breaking down she added: ‘So let’s just take a moment to remember our friend Liam…’

Rita previously admitted to being ‘devastated’ by Liam’s pᴀssing. The singer took to social media in October to pay tribute to Liam, observing that he had ‘the kindest soul’ 

The pair are seen performing together in 2018

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur H๏τel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in ‘extremely serious injuries.’ 

Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.

Read More Liam Payne tributes pour in as his X Factor co-stars and collaborator Rita Ora share emotional posts after One Direction star dies in tragic H๏τel fall

Payne was one of five band members of One Direction, which formed in 2010 when they each auditioned for the British singing compeтιтion series The X Factor. 

After each singer failed to make it through the compeтιтion as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined Payne, Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands.

The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like What Makes You Beautiful. 

They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016. They had a loyal fan base, many of whom were teen girls, who became known as ‘Directioners.’

Payne had a seven-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. 

She was an The X Factor judge during One Direction’s season. 

He is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. 

Following news of his death Rita said: ‘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’

Rita hosted the ceremony and was seen arriving on the red carpet earlier in the night in a light pink feathered gown

Those watching at home were moved to tears by Rita’s tribute

On Friday a H๏τel worker and a drug dealer were revealed as two of the three mystery men arrested over the death of Liam in Buenos Aires.

Police in Argentina believe they have uncovered drug dealing at the CasaSur Palermo H๏τel where the star fell to his death from his suite’s third-floor balcony on October 16.

A 21-year-old and a 24-year-old have been named by respected Argentine news website Infobae as two of the three arrested suspects. They are accused of supplying Liam with drugs while a third suspect is under investigation for abandoning a person who subsequently died.

The publication described the 21-year-old, from Ingeniero Budge on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, as an employee of the CasaSur Palermo H๏τel accused of having supplied cocaine to Payne on at least two occasions.

The 24-year-old drug dealer is from Berazategui, a suburb south-east of the city centre. He allegedly supplied narcotics to the former member of One Direction in the days before his death.

The singer’s close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores has denied that he is the third suspect and told MailOnline that he would never have abandoned the star.

Prosecutors have made it clear that any idea that Liam had committed suicide had been ruled out and said he was in a state of ‘semi or total unconsciousness’ as he fell to his death when he ‘didn’t know what he was doing.’ 

Tests have shown the 31-year-old binged on alcohol and cocaine before he died and also had traces of an antidepressant in his system. 

She changed into a sleek black suit for the tribute section 

She shared this sweet image of them together as she paid tribute last month 

Fans have been paying their respects to the popstar at the H๏τel since his tragic death

One Direction (from left to right) Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik in 2011

After releasing five albums with one of the biggest boybands of all time, Liam released his first solo album тιтled LP1 in 2019.

His singles Strip That Down co-written with Ed Sheeran climbed its way to number 10 on the Billboard H๏τ 100 chart that same year. 

Over the course of his music career, the popstar collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.

Rita hosted the MTV EMAs on Sunday night where Taylor Swift, Tyla and Raye were the big winners.

The red carpet was a sea of glamour with stars such as Maya Jama, Vick Hope and Jodie Turner-Smith dazzling.  

Aerial view of the H๏τel where British singer Liam died in Buenos Aires

He had been on holiday in South America with girlfriend Kate Cᴀssidy (left) 

MTV EMAs 2024: The WINNERS

BEST SONG

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)

Benson Boone – Beautiful Things

Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!

Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso – WINNER

 

BEST VIDEO

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)

Charli xcx – 360

Eminem – Houdini

Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN

Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight – WINNER

 

BEST ARTIST

Beyoncé

Billie Eilish

Post Malone

RAYE

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift – WINNER 

 

BEST COLLABORATION

Charli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess featuring Billie Eilish

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile

LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN

Peso Pluma, Anitta – BELLAKEO

Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight – WINNER 

 

BEST NEW

Ayra Starr

Benson Boone – WINNER 

Chappell Roan

LE SSERAFIM

Teddy Swims

The Last Dinner Party

Tyla

 

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Ariana Grande – WINNER 

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Charli xcx

Dua Lipa

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift

 

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Asake

Ayra Starr

Burna Boy

Rema

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Tyla – WINNER 

 

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Coldplay

Green Day

Kings of Leon

Lenny Kravitz

Liam Gallagher – WINNER 

The Killers

 

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Anitta

Bad Bunny

KAROL G

Peso Pluma – WINNER 

Rauw Alejandro

Shakira

 

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Jimin – WINNER 

Jung Kook

LE SSERAFIM

LISA

NewJeans

Stray Kids

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Fontaines D.C.

Hozier

Imagine Dragons – WINNER

Lana Del Rey

Twenty One Pilots

YUNGBLUD

 

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Calvin Harris – WINNER 

David Guetta

Disclosure

DJ Snake

Fred Again..

Swedish House Mafia

 

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Central Cee

Eminem – WINNER 

Kendrick Lamar

Megan Thee Stallion

Nicki Minaj

Travis Scott

 

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Travis Scott

Kehlani

SZA

Tinashe

Tyla – WINNER 

USHER

Victoria Monét

 

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Adele

Coldplay

Doja Cat

RAYE

Taylor Swift – WINNER 

Travis Scott

 

BEST PUSH

Ayra Starr

Chappell Roan

Coco Jones

Flyana Boss

Jessie Murph

Laufey

LE SSERAFIM – WINNER 

Mark Ambor

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

The Warning

Victoria Monét

 

BIGGEST FANS

Anitta

Ariana Grande

Beyoncé

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

Charli xcx

Katy Perry

LISA – WINNER 

Nicki Minaj

Sabrina Carpenter

Shawn Mendes

Taylor Swift

 

MTV EMA 2024 BEST REGIONAL ACT NOMINEES

BEST UK & IRELAND ACT

Central Cee

Charli xcx

Chase & Status

Dua Lipa

Hozier

RAYE – WINNER