Liam Payne seemed unsure of who he was – but the brutality of fame denied him the chance to find out
One Direction were the canaries in the coalmine of social media stardom – and Payne’s tragic death should give us pause over the welfare of today’s pop stars
• Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, dies aged 31
• Alexis Petridis: ‘After One Direction, Liam Payne was just getting started. His death is a heartbreaking end’
When I met Liam Payne five years ago, he was 26 years old and riding high. He was about to release his debut solo album and buoyed by the success of the first single, Strip That Down, which he claimed had outsold any of his former One Direction bandmates’ efforts to date. Photos of Payne in Hugo Boss underwear, his body absurdly built, were inescapable, plastered all over buses and billboards.
It was clear, throughout our interview, that Payne took some satisfaction in all this. Through his six formative years in the X Factor boyband, he had been pegged as the group’s “Mr Vanilla”. Payne told me of feeling manipulated by management to keep the others in check, worsening their relationships and the already immense pressure he was under.
Continue reading...Date: |
Topics
-
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Liam Payne: the ambitious One Direction star who struggled with dark side of fame
Singer, who rose to fame as a member of boyband One Direction, struggled to assert his creative identity outside of the groupYesterday -
Top stories - ABC News
One Direction pays tribute to Liam Payne: 'We will miss him terribly'
Former One Direction star Liam Payne died Oct. 16 at age 31.12 hours ago -
Top stories - BBC News
'He was a big piece of my life': Your tributes to Liam Payne
Fans pay tribute to the One Direction singer, with many saying he played a prominent role in their childhood.15 hours ago -
Entertainment - ABC News
Liam Payne and his bandmates all sought solo success after One Direction fame
One Direction was one of the last boy bands from the age of mass-audience linear television and one of the first of the social media era18 hours ago -
Top stories - BBC News
The star who proved he had the X factor
With One Direction, he achieved success beyond his teenage talent show dreams, but struggled with fame.Yesterday -
World - The Guardian
Despite having a loving partner, Mark feels unloveable. He grew up in a world that shamed him for who he is | Chris Cheers
Just as the cause of shame is outside us, so too must be the cure. Connection with others and collective action is a path to self-acceptance and belief. The modern mind is a column where experts ...4 days ago -
World - The Guardian
‘He had all the stuff you need to be a pop star’: how Liam Payne helped One Direction to global glory
Although he was less extroverted than his bandmates, his impressive vocals made him a cornerstone of the era’s defining boyband. So why did he struggle to accept his own greatness?. Liam Payne ...18 hours ago -
World - Yahoo News
Liam Payne dies at 31: What he shared about struggle with addiction and mental health
9 hours ago -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Liam Payne’s post-One Direction timeline: from podcast fall outs to fatherhood
Singer was open about his experiences in the aftermath of the band’s split, as he pursued a solo career and had a son with former ‘X Factor’ judge, Cheryl Tweedy4 hours ago
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Israel condemns UN chief for not ‘welcoming’ Yahya Sinwar killing: US pushes for Gaza ceasefire – Middle East crisis live
Israeli foreign minister says UN secretary general António Guterres remains barred from entering Israel. At least 28 people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school turned shelter in ...24 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Texas supreme court blocks execution of man in late-night ruling
Robert Roberson, 57, who has long claimed innocence over death of daughter, has for now been spared. The Texas supreme court has blocked the execution of a man on death row in a late-night ruling ...8 hours ago - Texas -
World - The Guardian
Trump gets record donations from big oil but far less than $1bn he wanted
Republican ex-president has received $14.1m oil and gas industry making it his fourth-biggest source of cash. Donald Trump has raised more money from the oil and gas industry than at this stage ...23 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
One Direction members say they are ‘devastated’ by loss of Liam Payne
Bandmates will miss the singer, 31, who fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, ‘terribly’. Liam Payne autopsy shows star died of multiple injuries sustained in fall Liam Payne ...13 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Body of ‘hero’ Australian found two days after saving German tourist from drowning in Bali
Witnesses said Craig Laidley had almost reached safety when a wave dragged the 56-year-old back into heavy seas . Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news ...1 hour ago