Louis Tomlinson Shares Moment Niall Horan Told Him About Liam Payne’s Death
During his October 8, 2025, appearance on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, Tomlinson revealed that Horan was the one who told him about Payne’s death.
Tomlinson shared that the situation felt similar to his sister passing away in 2019. “I had the same feeling that I had with Félicité,” he explained of getting the call.
The singer shared that he was in the car in Los Angeles when he heard about Payne’s death from Horan. Payne died on October 16, 2024, after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“And I think anyone has this when they’re around someone who’s struggling — my 150% wasn’t nearly enough,” Tomlinson said. “And that’s when it’s my own arrogance thinking that I could have helped really, because it was so much deeper than what I could have done for him.”
The singer added, “He was definitely struggling at that time in his life.”
Following Payne’s death, Tomlinson posted a tribute on Instagram. “When I put up my post about him … I really wanted him to be remembered the way that he should be remembered,” he shared.
Tomlinson noted, “I think we all looked up to him. I don’t think we would have been brave enough to say at that age when I was in the band, I think I would’ve had too much pride, but we all looked up to him massively.”
Louis Tomlinson Shared Touching Tribute to ‘Payno’
On October 17, 2024, Tomlinson shared a touching tribute to his late bandmate and friend.
“I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul,” he noted in the caption.
Tomlinson shared, “I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for.”
He called Payne “an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody” and shared their desire to reunite in the studio again to “recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.”
Tomlinson referred to Payne as “the most vital part of One Direction.”
“His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam,” he added.
Tomlinson also shared a special message just to Payne, writing: “I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.”
He concluded the message by writing, “I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”
