On Nov. 20, 2024, the former bandmates of One Direction came together to mourn Liam Payne, one of their band members who died in October 2024. A viral image purported to show Zayn Malik and Harry Styles walking side-by-side at Payne's funeral.
The image spread as many of their fans mourned Payne:
(X user @bluxverse)
However, the image was edited. While Styles and Malik were both present at the funeral, they were not photographed walking side-by-side. Two separate images of the singers at the funeral were combined to make it appear as though they were together in the same frame. As such, we rate this image as fake.
The original photographs of Malik and Styles are available on Getty Images. Below, Malik is shown walking with a woman at his shoulder. The caption states, "Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik leaves following the funeral of singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, United Kingdom. Former One Direction star Liam Payne's private funeral in Amersham has been widely anticipated to draw celebrities and fans alike, wishing to pay their final respects. The singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16."
(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Another image shows Styles in the same pose as seen in the X post, with his head down, but walking alone. The caption states: "Former One Direction band member Harry Styles leaves following the funeral of singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, United Kingdom."
(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Video footage of the moment also shows they were not at each other's sides at any point while arriving at that location and departing after the funeral:
Payne died in October 2024 after falling from his hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Prosecutors charged three people with allegedly supplying Payne with narcotics and abandoning him after he fell. Prosecutors said Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death.