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One Direction‘s members are mourning the death of their fellow band member Liam Payne. Zayn Malik returned to One Direction’s social accounts to give tribute to Liam, who died at the age of 31 on October 16, 2024.
Zayn Malik left One Direction in 2015 after being in the band for 5 years. “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined,” the singer said at the time. “But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”
Related: One Direction’s Remaining Members Are ‘Completely Devastated’ by Liam Payne’s Death: ‘We’ll Miss Him Terribly’
One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography
Why did Zayn leave One Direction?
In a Call Her Daddy interview in July 2024, Zayn said that he was pretty tangled with the group members. “There was a lot of—look I don’t want to go into too much detail, but there was a lot of politics going on,” he said on the podcast. “Certain people were doing certain things, certain people didn’t want to sign contracts, so I knew something was happening, so I just got ahead of the curve. I was like, ‘I’m just going to get out of here. I think this is done.’”
He also wanted to make a solo record and left One Direction because he was a bit “competitive.” “I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record, if I’m being completely honest with you,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to jump the gun here for the first time.’”
“I’m serious about [music] and I’m competitive, so I wanted to be the first to go and do my own thing,” he added. “That was the reason—and then there was obviously underlying issues, like within our friendships too.”
In an interview with The Fader right after his departure, he talked about his dissatisfaction about how things were recorded. “There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band,” he told the music magazine. “If I would sing a hook or a verse slightly R&B, or slightly myself, it would always be recorded 50 times until there was a straight version that was pop, generic as fuck, so they could use that version. Whenever I would suggest something, it was like it didn’t fit us. There was just a general conception that the management already had of what they want for the band, and I just wasn’t convinced with what we were selling. I wasn’t 100 percent behind the music. It wasn’t me. It was music that was already given to us, and we were told this is what is going to sell to these people. As much as we were the biggest, most famous boy band in the world, it felt weird. We were told to be happy about something that we weren’t happy about.”
Since his departure, Zayn has released several hits like “Pillowtalk” which topped the Billboard 100 charts. He released four albums Mind of Mine, Icarus Falls, Nobody Is Listening, and Room Under the Stairs.
How did Zayn Malik react to Liam Payne’s death?
Liam Payne died after falling off a third-floor story hotel room balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 16, 2024. Alberto Crescenti, Buenos Aires emergency services chief, told La Nación that Liam Payne suffered “serious injuries” that were untreatable once responders arrived at the scene.
Zayn wrote a tribute on his Instagram. “Love You Bro ❤️,” he captioned the post.
He wrote, “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 fucks 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 what happened 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 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 are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”
One Direction’s remaining members made a joint statement shortly before the individual members made their own posts. “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 statement continued, “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.”
Days before his death, Liam Payne’s ex Maya Henry claimed that the person who shoved him up a wall during his One Direction days was Zayn Malik.
