Almost nine years after One Direction went their separate ways, it was the shock death of Liam Payne that saw the boyband’s remaining members reunite.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” a joint statement, shared almost 24 hours after news broke that Payne had died aged 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony in Argentina, began.
But it was four letters written at the bottom of the statement that sparked a fresh wave of tears for longtime fans of a phenomenon that had been one of the biggest in the world at its peak.
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It’s no secret Payne’s relationship with his former bandmates – Louis Tomlinson, 32, Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Harry Styles, 30 – had been somewhat tense since One Direction went on “hiatus” on January 1, 2016.
Though Tomlinson and Payne would go on to become “best mates” before the latter’s death – the former even made a promise to Payne’s seven-year-old son, Bear, in his own tribute – Payne rarely publicly interacted with Styles and Horan.
I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.
His relationship with Malik, however, appeared to be downright hostile at times.
That’s something Malik – who was the second name signed at the bottom of One Direction’s joint statement – actually addressed in his own tribute to Payne.
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“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f–ks about telling people when they were wrong,” Malik wrote to his 53.3 million Instagram followers one day after Payne’s death.
“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, 😂 I always secretly respected you for it.”
Malik’s emotional statements came less than two years after his complicated relationship with Payne was stretched even thinner following a controversial interview the Strip That Down singer gave to Logan Paul’s IMPAULSIVE podcast.
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Though that interview was nothing short of explosive – it was the first time it was truly acknowledged things behind-the-scenes between the boys were not as they seemed in front of their legion of screaming admirers – it wasn’t the first, nor last, time Malik and Payne had publicly exchanged barbs.
And that’s what made this sentence from Malik – “I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives” – so much more heartbreaking.
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Thrust into the spotlight on The X Factor UK at the ages of 17 and 16, Malik and Payne had two weeks to get to know each other – plus Tomlinson, 19, Horan, 16, and Styles, also 16 – before they boarded a bullet train they wouldn’t get off until more than five years later.
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After coming third in the reality television competiton, One Direction would go on to release five albums and tour four times in six years – though in March 2015, in the middle of the band’s final world tour and nine months before the group would ultimately split, Malik left.
“We’re really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future,” the band’s official statement read.
“The past five years have been beyond amazing, we’ve gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. The four of us will now continue. We’re looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour.”
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The party line remained in May 2015, when Payne said of his former bandmate: “He had to do what he had to do really, for himself. It’s fine. We’re just going to carry on doing what we’re doing. We wish him all the best with whatever he goes into and stuff. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
In the months following, Malik notably made some negative comments about his time in the band, including to Zane Lowe in January 2016: “I never really wanted to be there, like in the band. I just gave it a go because it was there at the time, and when I realised the direction we were going in – mind the pun – with the music, I instantly realised it wasn’t for me, because I realised I couldn’t put any input in.”
That same month, Malik – who was doing press for his first solo album, Mind of Mine, and its lead single Pillowtalk – said despite the band denying rift rumours in his leaving statement, he had fallen out of touch with his former bandmates.
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“I had every intention of remaining friends with everybody, but I guess certain phone numbers have changed and I haven’t received calls from a lot of people,” he told Billboard.
In 2017, Payne acknowledged Malik’s comments on The Dan Wootton Interview podcast, saying all was “fine and good” with Malik despite them.
“If he feels hurt and scorned in some sort of way that I don’t really understand, that’s down to him so there we go,” Payne said. ”It is very sad because One Direction was a wonderful, wonderful time in all of our lives.”
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In April 2020, Payne once again spoke of Malik on the Killing It podcast, saying: ”Zayn makes music, but he doesn’t really perform. For him, he had such performance anxiety that he just couldn’t put his head around it.”
In that same interview, Payne gushed about Malik’s “really great” first solo performance after One Direction, before saying, “I think he is just kind of happy. He likes going to the studio, making the songs, he just doesn’t want to do anything that happens after that. But he is streaming hugely.”
The tides started to change in late 2021, however, when Payne posted a tongue-in-cheek TikTok video poking fun at Malik’s departure from the band more than six years prior, asking fans to “see the funny side” in it.
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”Are we absolutely sure what direction we’re going?” Payne mouthed in the video, writing on the screen, “POV the meeting after Zayn quit.”
Then all hell broke loose.
In May 2022, Payne made a controversial appearance on Logan Paul’s IMPAULSIVE podcast, during which he made a series of claims, largely about Malik, that he had to apologise for in the aftermath.
Notably, Payne said that there were “many reasons” why he didn’t like Malik but also “many reasons” why “he’ll always be on [Malik’s] side” too.
Payne also referenced Malik’s upbringing and compared it to his own, as well as infamously noting he and one other One Direction member “hated each other” during their time in the band, alleging “one member in particular threw me up a wall” and they almost came to blows.
(In early October, days before Payne’s death, his ex-fiancée Maya Henry alleged it was Malik that Payne was referring to, though neither Payne nor Malik publicly commented on the matter.)
I will always, always be on his side. That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.
In June 2022, Payne issued a public apology for his comments via X (formerly Twitter).
”I wouldn’t normally comment on this stuff but when it’s your family it’s hard to let it slide,” Payne wrote at the time.
“They mentioned a specific incident involving Zayn which I responded to – but listening back maybe I didn’t articulate myself as well as I could have.”
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“I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on but that I will always, always be on his side. That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever,” he said.
In July 2023, Payne once again addressed his IMPAULSIVE comments, saying in a YouTube video he was six months sober after spending 100 days in a rehabilitation facility.
“A lot of what I said came from the wrong place,” Payne said in the video. “I was so angry at what was going on around me and instead of taking a look inwards I decided to look outwards at everybody else and I just think, yeah, I took it out on everybody else, which is just wrong, really.”
He then addressed Malik by name, saying, ”The rest of the boys really stuck by me when I needed them most, they kinda came to the rescue. Even Zayn, as well, which is why I did send him a little thank you online.”
One month earlier, Payne had commented on an Instagram post shared by Malik, where the latter had teased new music.
“This sounds big already,” Payne wrote, to which Malik replied, ”Appreciate it bro, thanks for the love.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBPVN-8vDN9/?hl=en&img_index=1
That was their final public interaction noted by fans – 16 months later, Payne would be dead, and Malik would be writing a farewell.
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,” Malik said.
“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.”
One Direction’s full statement on Liam Payne’s death
We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.
Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry
Zayn Malik’s full statement on Liam Payne’s death
Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.
I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.
Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f–ks about telling people when they were wrong.
Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, 😂 I always secretly respected you for it.
When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.
I was always happy to know, no matter what happene on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.
I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.
I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.
I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and at peace 🙏🏽 and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.
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