Unearthed video shows Liam Payne and Rita Ora’s incredible bond as singer pays emotional tribute at the EMAs

An unearthed video showing Liam Payne’s incredible bond with Rita Ora has resurfaced following Rita’s emotional tribute to her boyfriend at the MTV Emas on Sunday.

The 33-year-old pop star hosted the awards ceremony at Co-op Live in Manchester and gave a heartfelt speech in honor of the former One Direction singer who died aged 31 in October.

The pair collaborated on 2018 single For You and it’s clear to see just how strong their friendship was as they shared the behind-the-scenes banter that’s making the rounds on social media.

Rita and Liam giggle as they lie on the floor during a break from filming in the sweet music video.

They are joined by other music producers and they sing into a microphone while the song plays in the background.

The 33-year-old pop star hosted the awards ceremony at Co-op Live in Manchester and gave a heartfelt speech in honor of the former One Direction singer who died aged 31 in October.

The unearthed video comes next burst into tears at the awards ceremony and said: ‘I would like to take a moment to remember someone 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 big part of yours at home and everyone here tonight.

‘Liam Payne was one of the nicest people I knew. He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way.

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

As she broke down, she added: “Let’s take a moment to remember our friend Liam….”

Rita previously admitted she was ‘devastated’ by Liam’s death.

The singer took to social media in October to pay tribute to Liam, affectionately saying he had “the kindest soul.”

Rita wrote on X: ‘I’m devastated [broken-heart emoji] He had the kindest soul, which I will never forget.

The pair worked together on 2018 single For You and it’s clear to see how strong their friendship was as they went behind the scenes on social media.

They are joined by other music producers and they sing into a microphone while the song plays in the background

Liam was seen chilling in the recording studio with Rita

Rita fooled around during the fun recording session

Rita – who collaborated with Liam on 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 together in 2018)

She added, “We lost him recently and he was a huge part of the MTV world and my world and I think a lot of yours at home and everyone here tonight.”

Rita previously admitted she was ‘devastated’ by Liam’s death. The singer took to social media in October to pay tribute to Liam, noting that he had ‘the kindest soul’

‘I enjoyed working with him so much; it was a pleasure to be with him on and off stage.

‘This tragic news breaks my heart. I send all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Our song For You now takes on a whole new meaning for me. TEAR [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 from the third floor in the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month.

After news of his death, Rita said: ‘He had the kindest soul, which I will never forget. I enjoyed working with him so much; it was a pleasure to be with him on and off stage’

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

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital’s trendy Palermo district, causing “extremely serious injuries.”

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

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

After each singer failed to make it through the competition 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 such as What Makes You Beautiful.

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

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

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

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