Harry Styles’ Stepfather Robin Twist Passes Away Following Cancer Battle

Harry Styles‘ stepfather passed away this week, PEOPLE confirms.

“Harry’s stepfather, Robin Twist, sadly passed away this week after a long battle with cancer. The family asks for privacy at this time,” a rep for the former One Direction singer told PEOPLE in a statement.

Twist, who has two other children from a previous relationship, reportedly helped raise the pop star since he was about seven years old. Twist and Styles’ mother, Anne, wed in June 2013—they celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on Instagram this month—where Styles served as the best man.

On Instagram, Styles’ fellow 1D star Liam Payne acknowledged the loss, writing, “Harry my heart really goes out to you such an extremely sad day for us all who knew Robin. What a kind, gentle and beautiful soul, a true rarity to find in today’s world. Sometimes they really do take the best of us far too soon.”

Harry my heart really goes out to you such an extremely sad day for us all who knew Robin. What a kind, gentle and beautiful soul, a true rarity to find in today's world. Sometimes they really do take the best of us far too soon. X

A post shared by Liam Payne (@liampayne) on Jun 22, 2017 at 8:41am PDT

Across Twitter, One Direction and Harry Styles fans are sending their condolences using the hashtag #RIPRobin. See some of their heartbroken posts, below:

Rest in peace, Robin Twist! Thoughts and prayers are with Anne, Gemma, Harry and the rest of their family. #RIPRobin pic.twitter.com/IuFUTea86P

— Ula (@alulawings) June 22, 2017

This can not be true… i'm absolutely heartbroken. Rest in peace angel, you'll be missed ❤ #RIPRobin pic.twitter.com/oj2IeXEuWg

— #OneLoveManchester (@Martina2001xx) June 22, 2017

"It’s like you’re all family now" #RIPRobin pic.twitter.com/2IpcDOxZQO

— Larry Theory BR (@larrytheorybr) June 22, 2017

Stars We Lost in 2017:

NEXT: HARRY STYLES CALLS MANCHESTER BOMBING VICTIM