Trigger warning: This article contains references to suicide and substance abuse.
Former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died on October 16, 2024, aged 31, was open about his mental health issues throughout his life. Payne, who was found dead after falling from the third-floor balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel, had often spoken about the pressures of fame and the impact it had on his mental and emotional health.
The cause of his death has not been revealed yet. In interviews, Payne has spoken openly about his struggles, ranging from the early days of One Direction to his personal battles with anxiety, agoraphobia and addiction.
In a 2017 interview with The Sun, Payne compared performing in One Direction to wearing one of those costumes and admitted that it was difficult to maintain a positive attitude.
“People don’t really see what’s going on underneath,” he said. He also talked about the canceled 2015 Belfast gig, stating that he was not in a good place at the time. “I was going through a tough time and I let it get to me a little too much,” he said.
Fans were disappointed by One Direction’s split in 2016, but Liam Payne agreed that this was what the band needed. “I’m a completely different person now than I was before,” he said. He said that the group does not often stop to celebrate their successes, which puts more pressure on them.
In a 2019 interview with Esquire Middle East, Payne revealed his ongoing battle with agoraphobia, which at times made it difficult for him to leave the house. He said that he would never leave the house. Even things as basic as walking to a coffee shop would make her anxious.
Later that year, in an interview with Men’s Health Australia, Payne addressed his mental health struggles in more detail. He defined the pressure of singing the same set of songs night after night as wearing a Disney costume and hiding his struggles.
He said he was troubled for a long time because he had no other way to learn about what was happening. Payne said many people in this industry aren’t getting the help they need and she’s fortunate to have the support she does.
During a November 2019 appearance on Straight Talk with Ant Middleton, Payne compared fame to an awkward midlife crisis and revealed how the pressure and loneliness had almost killed him on several occasions.
“That level of isolation at times and having people come at you every day…it’s almost killed me at times,” he said. Payne thanked those around him for their support during this difficult time.
In 2021, Payne spoke honestly on the Diary of a CEO podcast, stating that he struggled with substance abuse and even suicidal thoughts during his time with One Direction. He said he is worried about how far his rock bottom is going to go. Payne said he was good at hiding his struggles, making it difficult for others to understand what he was going through.
At the time of the interview, he had been sober for a month and thanked his friends and former bandmate Harry Styles for supporting him through his darkest times.
Later that year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Payne told Glamor that her mental health was an ongoing experience and that the pandemic was making her problems worse. They reported that they struggle to relax and feel compelled to be productive all the time.
In a YouTube video from July 2023, Payne revealed that he had completed a 100-day recovery program and had been sober for six months. He thanked his ex-wife Cheryl Cole and their son Bear for giving him the space to seek help.
There’s no point trying to be a father when you have nothing to teach, he said Before coming clean, he had nothing more to say than to express his deep love for his son. There was nothing to take.
Disclaimer: If you know someone who is having suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or suffering from any serious mental illness, seek immediate help from the nearest doctor, mental health professional or Contact an NGO. There are many helplines available for the same.
Also read: What did Liam Payne survive? Everything we know about the death of the former One Direction star
