Don't really see the significance of the first part... But - why didn't you delete the picture? He obviously didn't want it up... Maybe you should have asked him if he was okay (AFTER deleting the picture). If it's been a year, maybe lay off.
Ok I had this friend who had a crush on me. so I friendzoned him but we stayed friends. Later he asked me to delete a picture he was tagged in. I asked why and he said just do it but I kept asking and he blocked me, it’s been a year since?
Aaaand . . . I await with bated breath as to the significance of this question.
Are we sad because this was someone we could use as a safety net for our lonely time later on in life, or are we truly missing a dear friend? Sounds like this person might have felt a bit scorned, but okay to worthy of the term "Friend" . . . But really if we are honest this moved to "Acquaintance" then "Mild-Acquaintance" or even "People I've met in life" by now . . .
If this had been a true friend . . . If you had considered yourself a true friend it would have not gone on so long . . . Right?
Why not just do what a " friend" ask?
What is the real question here? Let it go move on.