Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast in 2021, the former One Direction member opened up about his struggles with fame and how touring ‘really fu**ed him up.’
Payne said the worst part was getting ‘locked up’ in hotel rooms after performing, three years before he plunged to his death from a third floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
‘My dad said it from day one – lonely hotel rooms, man – getting locked in that room is not fun when you’ve been exposed,’ the late singer said.
Payne also told podcast host Steven Barltett that he had a few ‘rock bottom moments’
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast in 2021, the former One Direction member opened up about his struggles with fame and how touring ‘really fu**ed him up’
‘I was worried how far my rock bottom was going to be,’ he shared. ‘Where is rock bottom for me? You would have never seen it. I’m very good at hiding it. No one would have ever seen it.
Liam added: ‘Rock bottom… I mean, I don’t even know if I’ve hit it yet… I can make that choice now and quick my last moment as my rock bottom or I can make a new one.’
He opened up about a gig in Dubai where he was initially concerned that no one would show up but ended up breaking records in attendance and being compared to Michael Jackson.
‘I got back to my hotel room and i was sat in my room on a chair like this,’ Payne said, putting on a shocked expression.
Payne explained that he was in such a state of shock after the Dubai show that he cancelled a trip to the Maldives with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole and their son Bear.
Describing what he felt at the time, he continued: ‘You know like in a movie where they throw a grenade and it goes [off] and then everyone’s like, “Oh, my God…”‘
One of Liam Payne’s final selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: ‘Lovely day in Argentina’
(From left) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne in 2010
Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel where he said he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.
The star, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said.
Buenos Aires police said Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in ‘extremely serious injuries.’ Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.
Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time warning of an ‘aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,’ the statement added.
The hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call saying they had ‘a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol … He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.’
The manager’s voice became more anxious as the call went on, noting the room had a balcony.
Fans light candles as they pay tribute to Liam Payne at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires last night
Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud.
She was an ‘X Factor’ judge during One Direction’s season, although their relationship began years later.
Payne was previously engaged to Maya Henry, from August 2020 to early 2022. Henry released a novel earlier this year that she said was based on their relationship.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.