Before his tragic passing on October 16 at the age of 31, former One Direction member Liam Payne expressed regret over negative comments he made about his bandmates, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. In recent years, Payne had opened up about the challenges he faced during and after his time with the band.
During a 2022 interview on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Payne criticized his former bandmates, particularly singling out Malik. However, he later retracted these comments in a YouTube video in 2023, where he apologized and attributed his remarks to personal frustrations and challenges in his solo career. “I took shots at everybody else, which is wrong,” Payne admitted. “So, obviously, I want to apologize for that.”
Reflecting on his experiences with One Direction, Payne told Men’s Health Australia in 2019 that he often turned to alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame, describing some aspects of the band’s dynamics as “toxic.” He shared that, while he enjoyed much of his time with the group, the experience could sometimes feel overwhelming.
Payne’s relationship with Malik, who left One Direction in 2015 to pursue a solo career, was a point of tension. On Impaulsive, Payne noted, “There are many reasons I dislike Zayn and many reasons why I’ll always be on his side.” He attributed some of Malik’s struggles to differences in their upbringings, which Payne suggested played a role in Malik’s departure from the band.
In his YouTube apology, Payne emphasized his appreciation for his bandmates, stating, “When I needed them most, they kind of came to my rescue.” Reflecting on their shared experiences, he acknowledged the support they provided one another during a tumultuous time in their lives.
Related topics: