Robbie Williams pleads with public in tribute to Liam Payne: ‘Even famous strangers need compassion’

Pop legend calls for more kindness and empathy from public, and discusses his history of addiction

Robbie Williams has shared an impassioned tribute to the One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died this week after falling from a balcony in a Buenos Aires hotel.

Williams acted as a mentor to One Direction when the band competed on The X Factor in 2010, and continued a friendship with Payne and the group.