Sam Smith cuts a sombre figure and shields their eyes behind shades after paying heartbreaking tribute to One Direction choreographer Paul Roberts following his tragic death

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Sam Smith looked sad and serious while out in New York City on Sunday, after publicly honoring dance choreographer Paul Roberts, who recently passed away.

The 33-year-old singer-songwriter wore sunglasses, visibly upset after sharing their grief over the death of Paul, a colleague from Sam’s recent tour.

Sam was wearing a large, striped shirt with jeans and black sneakers when they picked up a coffee from a nearby cafe.

Despite feeling down, the musician smiled for photos with fans while traveling through New York City.

This happened shortly after Sam publicly honored Paul, a choreographer who recently passed away at the age of 52 after fighting cancer.

His partner, Phil Griffin, announced the sad news on social media that the gifted dancer had died the night before.

On Sunday, Paul’s partner, Phil, shared the sad news that Paul had passed away peacefully at home yesterday evening, after a brave fight with cancer, and was surrounded by loved ones.

‘His departure, much like his life, was filled with grace RIP.’  

Sam shared a heartfelt message in the comments, saying, ‘This is devastating. I’m thinking of and sending love to Paul’s family and friends during this difficult time. Paul brought so much joy to the world. I’ll always remember his kindness and lively spirit, and his impact on those who loved him will live on. He will be deeply missed.’

Emma Bunton shared her sadness, saying she’s heartbroken by the loss and that being with Phil Griffin always brought her joy. She’s sending her love to him and his family.

Sophie Ellis Bextor shared her sadness, saying Paul was a truly special person – incredibly talented, but also kind, warm, and fun to be around. She expressed her deep sorrow at his passing and sent her love to everyone who knew him.

Paul previously collaborated with the band One Direction and also choreographed Harry Styles’ “Treat People With Kindness” music video, which earned him an MTV VMA for Best Choreography in 2021.

He created the dance routines for One Direction’s music videos, including “Steal My Girl,” “Best Song Ever,” and “Kiss You.”

In a 2021 interview with the BBC, Paul shared that working with One Direction was a consistently interesting experience.

I quickly realized there was something special about them, beyond just their good looks and musical talent as a five-member, and later four-member, band. They clearly had a lot of other abilities too.

It was lovely to see them come alive in private. They’d goof off and dance around, and it struck me that they had the potential to be really good if they actually tried.

Nicola Roberts from Girls’ Aloud shared a heartfelt message upon hearing the news, saying she was deeply saddened. She remembered Paul Griffin as a wonderful person who played a special role in the band’s beginnings, and sent her condolences.

Layton Williams paid tribute, calling Paul one of the kindest and most beautiful people he’d ever met. He said it was a privilege to have known and worked with him, and wished him peace.

Lottie Tomlinson, Louis Tomlinson’s sister, expressed her sadness with a heartbroken emoji. Their publicist, Simon Jones, along with Niall Horan’s, shared: ‘We’re deeply saddened by the loss of this wonderful person. Sending our love and support.’

Nicole Appleton of All Saints shared a heartfelt message saying she’s devastated by the loss and will deeply miss the person she’s addressing. She fondly remembers the joy and happiness they brought to her life, referencing their special song, ‘Ben,’ and sending her love and condolences to the person and their family.

Natasha Hamilton from Atomic Kitten shared her shock and sadness, saying she couldn’t believe the news about Paul O’Grady. She expressed her sympathy to Phil and fondly remembered the many wonderful memories she had with Paul, admiring how successful and fulfilling his life had become. She sent her love and support, calling it a very sad day.

Throughout his 25-year career, he collaborated with many famous artists, including Prince, Diana Ross, Destiny’s Child, Ed Sheeran, Take That, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Dolly Parton.

He also created the dance routines for Sam Smith’s ‘The Thrill Of It All’ world tour and Robbie Williams’ performance at the Palladium.

In addition to his work with musical groups, Paul also created dance sequences for television, including the Sky series *I Hate Suzie* starring Billie Piper.

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2025-09-29 04:05