"Like the flick of a switch, he's gone": Niall Horan reflects on shock of Liam Payne's death in emotional interview

Niall Horan has spoken about the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, describing grief marked by disbelief, memory, and emotional contrast.

Speaking with The Times of London, the Slow Hands hitmaker revealed that he was in Argentina with Liam Payne just weeks before he died in 2024.

He also recalled that the moment he heard the news, he was in denial.

"I'm glad of that, it means my last memory of him was happy. It still feels surreal. On day one, I was, like, 'Nah, it didn't happen.' Our friendship was a bond that was there forever, even if we hadn't seen each other for a while, and it's wild that one day, like the flick of a switch, he's gone."

The former One Direction went on to state that the feeling of comfort came from the fact that he was able to hold on to his last good memory with Liam Payne, even as the loss felt sudden and disorienting.

The Heartbreak Weather pop star also shared that their families are still in touch after the tragedy.

"When I think of Liam's passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh and smirk because of the memories we had. I'll go to places and think of something stupid in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh. We always had good fun in Australia because we were able to get out and go to the beach. Liam wasn't too bad at surfing. I can barely swim."

Niall Horan "absolutely devastated" over Liam Payne's death

Liam Payne passed away on October 16, 2024, after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Authorities concluded that the fall was accidental and not a deliberate, conscious act.

In the wake of his death, Niall Horan issued a poignant statement, saying he felt "absolutely devastated" and it still "doesn't feel real."

"I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn't know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It's heartbreaking."

Niall Horan also expressed his condolences to Liam Payne's family and loved ones, and reminisced the memories he had shared with his former bandmate.

"All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness. We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn't happen often in a lifetime."

Meanwhile, Niall Horan is set to drop his new album, Dinner Party, on June 5. In his new album, one song is dedicated to Liam Payne, titled End of an Era.

Trending

When asked what Payne's reaction would've been, Horan said:

"I think it’s his type of song, he liked Coldplay, he loved songs like 'You & I' by One Direction, songs that went somewhere."

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback