Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson in 2016.
(Photo courtesy of Getty)Liam Payne and louis tomlinson They had a lifelong connection through One Direction, which went on to become one of the most successful boy bands of all time.
But their friendship didn’t always go smoothly. The late “Teardrops” singer admitted that he and Tomlinson, 32, “hated” each other early in the boy band’s journey.
Their bond later became unbreakable, with the pair publicly expressing their admiration for each other through public tributes and interviews in recent years.
News broke of Payne’s tragic death at the age of 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, October 16th. our week A look back at the bromance between two one-dimensional stars.
July 2010
After auditioning in England x factor Payne, who was cut too young in 2008, returned to fame two years later. together harry styles30, Zayn Malik31 and Niall HoranAged 31, Payne and Tomlinson were offered the opportunity to join forces as a boy band. When everyone agreed, it marked the beginning of pop sensation One Direction.
(Left) 2010 Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne
(Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)2013
Payne spoke about how his bond with Tomlinson and the rest of his One Direction bandmates helped him overcome the demands and pressures of the band at the height of their success.
“We take each day as it happens,” Payne said. E! tidings “Our main thing is that we don’t take this too seriously. We’re just here for a few laughs, anything else is great.”
When asked if he might one day pursue a solo career if One Direction breaks up, Payne added that he would miss the camaraderie.
“It’s a little scary, to be honest,” Payne told the outlet. “I like to feel as comfortable as other young people on stage.”
“There’s always someone to talk to,” he added.
One Direction 2013
(Photo credit: JM Enternational/Redferns)August 2015
One Direction shocked fans by pulling the plug on the band, but at the time only insisted on a hiatus of about 18 months.
December 2016
Tragedy struck Tomlinson’s mother in 2016. Johanna Deakin died of leukemia At age 43.
Payne expressed support for the grieving Tomlinson and wrote a heartfelt note to his bandmate, which he posted via Twitter.
“Brother, I’m so sorry,” he wrote in the note. “My heart aches for you. Know that I love you from a million miles away as much as I love you right next to me. I am always here for you in everything just as you have been for me. “My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this incredibly sad time.”
Payne added, “I can’t imagine what you guys are going through,” and concluded by writing, “RIP, Johannah, you are forever in my thoughts.”
Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson in 2016.
(Photo courtesy of Getty)2019
Payne spoke about One Direction’s early days and how he and Tomlinson got off on the wrong foot at first.
In an interview with hit radioPayne confessed that he and Tomlinson initially “absolutely hated each other.”
Payne said, “When we were in the band he was the oldest and I had been singing for quite some time, so it seemed like it put us both in a strange position.”
“He wanted to be a leader and I was doing my job and I wanted to do that. So at first we didn’t ride at all. We really hated each other, but it was so much fun. It’s really bad. “We hid it well.”
March 2019
Tragedy struck again in 2019 when Tomlinson’s sister died. Felicite He died of a drug overdose in London at the age of 18.
Félicité and Johanna’s deaths were featured in Tomlinson’s documentary ‘All of Those Voices’, released in 2023.
October 2021
Payne’s conversations with Tomlinson made him reconsider his relationship with Tomlinson over the years. ET Canada October 2021.
“Me and Louis didn’t get along very well. We all stuck together and didn’t know each other when we became a band,” Payne said. “Now we’re actually best friends in the band. I think that’s really fun. I feel like there’s a connection between the two of us that breathes, even in our anxious moments.”
One Direction 2015
(Photo courtesy of Getty)May 2022
Appearing on Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive’ podcast in May 2022, Payne sparked controversy by speaking candidly about his ‘rowdy’ bandmates, including Tomlinson.
“Louis was rough. And he wanted to get wild. That’s his mentality,” Payne said. “He’s my best friend now, but we hated each other in the band. Like, the people that were hit hated each other. “It was close.”
September 2022
Payne received a lot of backlash for his comments on the podcast, but Tomlinson later publicly defended the “Strip That Down” singer during an appearance on the podcast “The Zach Sang Show.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Tomlinson said in September 2022. “When I first got online and saw the fans… I was waiting for the game to start.”
Tomlinson acknowledged the difficulties and pressures celebrities face, describing their jobs as “challenging”.
“We all make the mistake of making these judgments when we watch videos or anything else. I would like to say that this job can be difficult at times and very mentally challenging at times. And I know that no one listening to this is going to want to hear that. Because you know we did a good job. thank you.”
Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne in 2023.
(Photo credit: Justin E Palmer/GC Images)March 2023
After attending the premiere of Tomlinson’s documentary “All of Those Voices,” Payne reflected on how she had not spent enough time for Tomlinson as she faced her toughest personal challenges.
“Seeing the world through your eyes last night was the most beautiful experience,” Payne wrote in an Instagram tribute in March 2023. My neck hurts now from how much I look up to you. You were already my friend. But the reason I was able to look into your world and mind through that window was because my respect for you grew even more. What you processed and how you kept it all inside. I’m so sorry I was so distraught and couldn’t do better for you. At that moment, I felt ashamed that I wasn’t as good a friend as you were to me. At least now I have time and I’m me again, so I’ll try to make up for it.”
From the moment One Direction formed, Liam Payne would add four siblings to his life. Thanks to the creative minds of The X Factor UK judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Payne came together in 2010 to create a life-changing boy band. […]
Payne also paid tribute to Tomlinson for being a good friend.
“I am so grateful to have you as my life partner,” Payne wrote. “I feel so lucky and I know you know this too. But you were part of a small group that literally saved my life. You’ve pulled me out of a dark place I’ve never shared, but your approach is one I admire and respect. I aspire to one day be able to do the same.”
“It means the absolute world,” Tomlinson said of Payne’s presence at the X premiere. i love you!”
