The Bieber comparisons may have annoyed Payne, but there was a reason a portion of their fandoms overlapped.

They both shot to superstardom when they were teenagers and had their every move scrutinized.

“I was like, ‘Dude, I’ve always felt for you.’

Liam Payne attends The Fashion Awards 2022 at the Royal Albert Hall in London (2022)

As Payne reasoned simply, “He needs somebody like that and in that position,” (viaHello!

Split image of Justin Bieber and Liam Payne