Harry Styles is opening up about the loss of his One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, saying that the singer and songwriter had “the kindest heart.”
In a new Apple Music interview released on March 4, Styles sat down with Zane Lowe to discuss a series of wide-ranging topics. This interview was the first time he discussed Payne’s 2024 passing in depth.
What did Harry Styles Say About Liam Payne?
The “Aperture” singer told Zane Lowe that Liam Payne had “the kindest heart.” He explained, “It’s like, I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.”
He said that his former One Direction bandmate’s passing helped him in “taking a look at my life and being able to say to myself, ‘OK, what do I want to do with my life? How do I want to live my life?’ And I think the greatest way you can honor your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest.”
Styles added, “I think there was a period when he passed away where I really struggled with kind of, like, acknowledging how strange it is to have people kind of, like, own part of your grief in a way. I have such strong feelings around my friend passing away. Then suddenly being, you know, like, aware of there’s maybe a desire from other people for you to convey that in some way, or it means you’re not feeling what you’re feeling or something.”
Harry Styles met Liam Payne When He Was Just 16
Harry Styles and Liam Payne met at the age of 16 when both appeared as contestants on the British version of the “X Factor” singing competition series. One Direction was officially formed in July 2010, according to Us Weekly, with Styles and Payne joined by Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, completing the singing group.
One Direction would go on to become one of the most popular singing groups of the 2010s with five successful albums: “Up All Night,” “Take Me Home,” “Midnight Memories,” “Four,” and “Made in the A.M.” before taking an indefinite hiatus in January 2016. Subsequently, all five band members went on to launch successful solo careers in the following years.
Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024 at the age of 31.
Harry Styles releases his new album “Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally” on March 6, 2026. Per Newsweek, a subsequent concert tour begins in Europe and continues to South America, Mexico City, and New York City for 30 dates at Madison Square Garden before Styles heads to Australia for the tour’s conclusion.
