Robbie Williams is urging the public to stop themselves before writing negative comments about celebrities in a tribute post to Liam Payne.
The 'Angels' singer, 50, opened up to fans about his feelings of "shock, sadness and confusion" as he broke his silence on Liam's untimely passing at 31.
He reflected on how Liam's "trials and tribulations were very similar" to his own as he looked back on the late singer’s life.
Musicians and celebrities have been remembering Liam after police in Argentina reported that he died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel on Wednesday.
Liam initially found fame as a member of One Direction, which became a global phenomenon after finishing third on The X Factor in 2010.
Robbie, a former member of Take That who also began his career in a boy band, took to social media on Friday morning to share his thoughts on Liam’s death and his own struggles with addiction.
The father of four posted a drawing of an email exchange that appeared to be between him and Liam as he paid tribute on Instagram.
"How to make sense of the Liam Payne tragedy?" Robbie started in a lengthy caption. "Obviously, my first feelings towards his passing were like everyone else. Shock, sadness and confusion. And to be honest as I write these words that’s where I still am."
He went on: "I met the boys on The X Factor and ‘’mentored’’ them. I use the word mentored in inverted brackets cos I hardly did anything to be honest. I just hung out with them. They were all cheeky and lovely.
"I enjoyed the light hearted piss takery and Thought about all the times I was that cheeky pisstaker with the Popstars that had gone before me when I was in Take That.
"Our paths have crossed ever since that day and I’m fond of them all. Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did."
Robbie also urged kindness from his followers, writing: "I guess in these moments it’s worth repeating - WE DON’T KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. WHAT PAIN THEY’RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT MAKES THEM BEHAVE IN THE WAY THAT THEY BEHAVE. BEFORE WE REACH TO JUDGEMENT, A BIT OF SLACK NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
"BEFORE YOU TYPE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET, HAVE A THINK ‘’DO I REALLY NEED TO PUBLISH THIS?’’, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE DOING. YOU’RE PUBLISHING YOUR THOUGHTS FOR ANYBODY TO READ.
"EVEN IF YOU DON’T REALLY THINK THAT CELEBRITIES OR THEIR FAMILIES EXIST. THEY F***ING DO. SKIN AND BONE AND IMMENSELY SENSITIVE."
The "Rock DJ" singer then touched on his own struggles with addiction. Having been sober for over 20 years, Robbie shared with his followers: "I still had my demons at 31. I relapsed. I was in pain. I was in pain because I relapsed.
"I relapsed because of a multitude of painful reasons. I remember Heath Ledger passing and thinking ‘’I’m next’’. By the grace of god and/or dumb luck I’m still here.
"The internet will unfortunately carry on being the internet. The media will unfortunately carry on being the media and fame will carry on being fame.
"As individuals though we have the power to change ourselves. We can be kinder. We can be more empathic. We can at least try to be more compassionate towards ourselves, our family, our friends, strangers in life and strangers on the internet."
Robbie ended his tribute to Liam with: "Even famous strangers need your compassion. What a Handsome Talented boy. What a tragic painful loss for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the energy this moment has created - The World. Be Kind."
Following Liam's death on Wednesday, five witnesses were interviewed to piece together what occurred, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Reports indicated that hotel staff made two calls to emergency services, with audio revealing that a staff member had requested help for a guest who was "intoxicated by drugs and alcohol."
Authorities in Buenos Aires said the music star’s hotel room was "in complete disarray" with "various items broken."
They noted that a whiskey bottle, lighter, and mobile phone were recovered from the internal hotel courtyard where Liam's body was discovered.
One Direction fans gathered outside the Argentine hotel to mourn his death, lighting candles and laying flowers as part of a vigil.