Liam Payne’s Friend ‘Shocked’ as He Reacts to One Direction Star’s Death Live on Air: ‘First I’m Hearing of It’

• Liam Payne's close friend, Ant Middleton, found out about the One Direction singer's death shortly before appearing on Australia's morning show Sunrise
• Middleton — who filmed the documentary, Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking, with Payne in 2019 — said the musician was "like a younger brother" to him
• "I’m shocked, this is obviously the first I’m hearing of it," he said during the interview

One of Liam Payne's close friends learned about the One Direction star's death at 31 shortly before being asked about it in a TV interview.

During Thursday, Oct. 17's episode of Australia's Channel 7 morning show Sunrise, Ant Middleton, 44 — who filmed the documentary Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking with Payne in 2019 — paid tribute to the singer moments after finding out about the tragedy.

"I speak to Liam quite often, he’s a good friend of mine. And, wow, I’m shocked, this is obviously the first I’m hearing of it," the SAS: Who Dares Wins star said of Payne, who died after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Oct. 16. 

Middleton added of Payne's death, "I don’t really know what to say about that. I’m going to have to make sure that I reach out to the relevant people to find out what’s happened to my good friend."

"But I’m away filming at the moment as you can see, that’s why I’m wet and there’s a bit of noise around me. But yeah, my condolences and I hope they find out what’s gone on," he continued.

The TV personality said he considered Payne a "younger brother" after he was Middleton's first celebrity guest on his docuseries.

"After we filmed Straight Talking with Ant Middleton, we formed a brotherhood. He was like a younger brother to me. He would confide in me, I’d go 'round and see him," he shared.

"There were some issues there, but nothing that a young celebrity at his caliber wouldn’t suffer from. So I’m just shocked at the moment really, wow. Yeah. Don’t really know what to say," Middleton added.

The British adventurer had nothing but kind words to share about the late singer, insisting on the show, "He had a lovely aura around him, he was a lovely guy, he had positive energy around him. He was a visionary, he always thought and dreamed big and that's why he got to where he was."

"He was loved. He was one of those band members that was the glue, I believe, for One Direction. It's a shame to see such a positive individual die so young," he said.

Middleton later shared multiple photos on Instagram, including one of the pair posing in front of a stunning sunset.

"That was some sunset you captured there mate! A talented positive man with a good heart. I’m glad our friendship flourished and that I was someone you could confine in," he captioned the post. 

"Your turn to look over me now bro! Luv ya and will miss you sorely… My sincere condolences to @liampayne family during these unimaginable times 🙏🏼💙 #restinpeacebrother," Middleton concluded.

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Middleton is one of many people around the world paying tribute to Payne, who shot to fame alongside his One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson after they appeared on The X-Factor U.K. in 2010.

Styles, Malik, Horan and Tomlinson have yet to comment on the late musician's death.