This article includes mentions of suicide and addiction.
However, when One Direction announced an indefinite hiatus in 2015, Payne regained control of his life.
Their debut single went to No.
1 on the charts, and the band was met with adoration from fans.
However, receiving love from his peers wasn’t always the case for Payne.
As a child, he had a few uncomfortable run-ins with a group of older kids while in school.
They went on sold-out tours yearly, and each album seemed to outsell their last.
From the outside looking in, it seemed as though the singer was living the dream.
Privately,Liam Payne was struggling with his mental healthand was masking his unhappiness.
Regarding his dark thoughts, he said, “It was really, really severe.”
Payne once described fame as having a mid-life crisis and discussed how it led him to a negative place.
Who could forget the time a fan stole Liam Payne’s boxers from his hotel balcony?
But despite the media scrutiny, there were still things Payne was able to keep under wraps.
He began taking an epilepsy drug to even out his mood.
“I just needed a little bit of help to keep me stable,” he toldThe Guardian.
Though fans weren’t aware of the addictions he was struggling with, Payne said it was obvious.
However, Liam Payne was more than ready to bid farewell.
To him, it was a matter of survival.
Their key to success was their non-stop work schedule, even if it was to their personal detriment.
Not having control over his life during that time period left a damaging impression on the young musician.
“I still struggle with it now,” he toldMen’s Health Australiain 2019.
“I really struggle to say no because I don’t like to let people down.
It’s in my nature.”
The breakup hit Payne hard.
It wasn’t until 2017 that Payne would confess that the illness was actually heartbreak.
“I let it get to me that day.
I wasn’t in a good place,” he told The Sun.
That was it."
During his anguish, a vulnerable Payne turned to the press to express what he was feeling.
In terms of what caused the split, Payne revealed that distance was to blame.
“We spent so much time apart.
At the time, Payne told the press that he would be focusing on himself post-breakup.
The singer took six months off and began a healing process by seeing a therapist for two years.
“It was difficult at the start because I didn’t really know anything about myself.
It was a bit of a numb feeling,” he toldGQ.
The question of “What’s next?”
Luckily for him, the singer’s new management team intervened at the right moment.
I was just trying to figure myself out,” he explained to the outlet.
“I like you, I think you’re really cute.
In March 2017, the pair welcomed a son named Bear Payne.
The 24-year-old first-time dad spoke publicly about his struggles adapting to fatherhood.
I started in a bad place with it.”
The singer confessed that he feared not being a capable caretaker for his child and then-girlfriend.
The pair made things official in 2019 with Payne posting a photo of the two on his Instagram.
Despite the scrutiny, the two went on to get engaged in August 2020.
“This is not me and it’s hard enough knowing this has happened without seeing it.
The woman in question was model Aliana Mawla, with whom many assumed Payne cheated on Henry.
“I developed a bit of agoraphobia.
I would never leave the house.
He described feeling a sense of panic while running common errands like shopping or picking up a Starbucks order.
The R&B and pop record featured cheeky lyrics penned by Payne and hit-maker Ed Sheeran.
The record was an immediate success and reached a billion streams across all platforms.
Payne is now comfortable in his own skin and it reflects in his style.
“I don’t feel the need to hide behind the clothes anymore.
I feel like I can finally be who I am,” he explained.
“His management were at the end of their tether and said enough is enough.”
The six-stop tour excited fans who were eager to see him back on stage after so long.
However, less than a month later, Payne posted another video for fans, sharing some bad news.
The singer announced that his long-awaited tour was postponed due to health concerns.
Doctors ordered him to rest and prioritize his recovery.
Payne’s friends appeared pleased with this progress.
Unfortunately, though, the good times were not destined to last.
On October 7, 2024, it was reported that Payne’s friends were worried about him.
The issue?Payne appeared to be abandoning old friendships and jumping too quickly into new ones.
Interestingly, this individual was not the only one who was concerned about Payne.
Fast forward to 2024, and nothing could be further from the truth.
No bad vibes or anything like that, but we need to talk.”
Rather than sit back and allow Horan to absorb the spotlight, Payne began dancing the macarena for concert-goers.
He then proceeded to dance so erratically that a security guard had to go settle him down.
This out-of-control behavior made many of Payne’s biggest fans wonder if he was feuding with Horan.
Others began to question whether Payne was genuinely doing okay.
One receptionist even went so far as to place two separate phone calls to the local emergency services.
However, by the time help arrived, Payne had already fallen.
As of the publication of this article, the Argentine police are investigating the cause of Payne’s fall.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
