Niall Horan recently spoke to The Times of London about the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who died in 2024 at 31 after a tragic fall in Buenos Aires.
Horan's Immediate Reaction
Horan, who was in Argentina a few weeks before Payne's death, said he initially couldn't believe the news. "On day one I was, like, ‘Nah, it didn’t happen,’" he recounted. He expressed gratitude for having shared happy moments with Payne during their last meeting.
Family Bonds and Personal Reflections
Following the incident, Horan mentioned that their families have stayed connected as they cope with the loss. "There is a ‘light and shade’ to my grief," he shared, reliving their fun memories, especially in Australia, where Payne occasionally surfed. "Liam wasn’t too bad at surfing. I can barely swim," Horan added with a smile.
Musical Tribute in New Album
In his forthcoming solo album “Dinner Party,” set to release on June 5, Horan includes a tribute to Payne titled “End of an Era.” He believes Payne would have appreciated the track, linking it to Payne's love for songs by Coldplay and One Direction's “You & I.”
Horan's reflections paint a poignant picture of his enduring bond with Payne, highlighting the mixture of joy and sorrow that comes with remembering a close friend lost too soon.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/niall-horan-liam-payne-death-one-direction-1236763210/
