Louis Tomlinson has shared an emotional recollection of how he found out about the tragic passing of his One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne. Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, the “Walls” singer revealed that it was fellow band member Niall Horan who broke the devastating news to him. Payne passed away at the age of 31 on October 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina — a loss that continues to weigh heavily on those who knew and loved him.
Tomlinson recalled he was “in the car, in L.A.” when he received the heartbreaking call from Niall. The news immediately took him back to the grief he felt when he lost his younger sister, Félicité, in 2019. “I had the same feeling that I had with Félicité,” Louis shared. “And I think anyone who’s around someone struggling knows that no matter how much you give, it never feels enough.” The singer admitted that he often wonders if he could have done more to help his late friend, but also recognized that Payne’s struggles ran deeper than anyone could have imagined.
“He was definitely struggling at that time in his life,” Tomlinson said, reflecting on the emotional toll that Payne’s passing left on him. The two musicians had reconnected in the years following One Direction’s hiatus, often spending hours on the phone reminiscing about their shared memories. After Payne’s death, Tomlinson took to Instagram to express his grief, writing that he felt “beyond devastated” to lose “a brother.” He described Liam as “a positive, funny, and kind soul” and admitted he was struggling with the idea of saying goodbye.
In his heartfelt message, Tomlinson also spoke about the deep bond they rekindled after the band. “I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band,” he wrote. “Talking for hours about the thousands of memories we shared felt like something that would last forever. I would have loved to share the stage with you again, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Reflecting further on the podcast, Tomlinson explained why it was important for him to honor Payne publicly. “When I put up my post about him, I really wanted him to be remembered the way he should be remembered,” he said. “He was an amazing person, someone we all looked up to.” Tomlinson added that, even at their young age in One Direction, they admired Liam’s confidence and leadership, qualities that helped shape the band’s success.
As Tomlinson continues to heal from the loss, he is also preparing to release his upcoming album How Did I Get Here? on January 23, 2026. The project’s first single, “Lemonade,” is already out, offering fans a glimpse into the singer’s emotional journey and resilience after years marked by both personal and professional highs and lows.
