Liam Payne AND Zayn Malik experienced a series of ups and downs over the years.
Both musicians were thrust into the limelight together Harry Styles, Niall Horan AND Louis Tomlinson while in The X Factor in 2010 to form One Direction. After releasing four albums as a group, Malik announced his departure from the boy band in March 2015.
“He had to do what he had to do really, for himself,” Payne said of Malik during an interview in May 2015. “It’s good. We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. We wish him all the best with whatever he does and stuff. We just have to see what happens.”
The boy band continued without Malik, releasing another album before going on hiatus in December 2015.
As One Direction went their separate ways and the boys embarked on their solo endeavors, Payne (who died aged 31 in October 2024) offered insight into some of the group’s dynamics – including his relationship with Malik.
Music superstars. Pop boy band One Direction became one of the biggest groups of the 2010s after its five members – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik – met as contestants on the reality TV series The X factor in 2010. The five singers became a group next to judge Simon Cowell (…)
Keep scrolling to see Payne and Malik’s ups and downs over the years:
No bad blood
In 2017, Payne said everything was “well and good” with Malik, despite the Pillowtalk singer’s negative comments about being in the band.
“If he feels hurt and slighted in some way that I don’t really understand, that’s up to him, so here we go,” Payne shared on “The Dan Wootton Interview” podcast at the time. “It’s very sad because One Direction was a great, great time in all of our lives.”
Subtle shade towards Malik
“Zayn makes music, but he doesn’t really perform,” Payne said on the Killing It podcast in April 2020. “For him, he had such performance anxiety that he just couldn’t wrap his head around it.”
Payne recalled seeing Malik’s “really awesome” first solo performance after leaving the band.
“I think he’s just kind of happy,” Payne speculated. “He loves going to the studio, making songs, he just doesn’t want to do anything that happens after that. But he’s broadcasting tremendously.”
The fun of TikTok Poking
In September 2021, Payne posted a now-viral TikTok mocking Malik’s departure from One Direction and asked fans to “see the funny side” of him.
Payne could be seen saying the words: “Are we absolutely sure which way we’re going?” He captioned the screen, “POV meeting after Zayn left.”
Drama Podcast
Payne admitted that there were “many reasons” why he disliked Malik during a May 2022 appearance on Logan Paul“Impulsive” podcast. However, the “Strip That Down” singer said there are “plenty of reasons” why “he’ll always be on (Malik’s) side as well.”
More importantly, Payne referenced Mailk’s upbringing and compared their home lives growing up.
“My parents are incredibly supportive to the point where it’s annoying sometimes. Zayn had a different upbringing in that sense,” Payne said. “You can always look at the man where he’s at and be like, ‘Oh, yeah, whatever, that guy’s ad—.’ But at the end of the day, once you understand what he’s been through to get to that point — and also whether or not he wanted to be there.”
The days of One Direction are over, but Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have continued to make music – and headlines – over the years. After forming and finishing third on the UK version of The X Factor in 2010, One Direction released four successful studio albums — (…)
During the same interview, Payne noted that he and one of his former One Direction bandmates “hated each other” during their time in the band. (Payne’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry has since discovered that he was talking about Malik.)
“Like, we hate each other, it was close,” he said. “There was a moment where there was an argument backstage, and one member in particular threw me against a wall.”
Following the comments, Malik posted a since-deleted video of him singing his famous riff from One Direction’s You & I, which fans responded to.
Payne’s Apology
The following month, Payne apparently turned to podcast commentary.
“I wouldn’t normally comment on these things, but when it’s your family, it’s hard to let it slide,” he shared via X in June 2022. “They mentioned a specific incident involving Zayn, which I responded to. – but maybe I heard it again. I don’t articulate myself as well as I could.”
The social media post continued: “I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on, but that I will always, always be on his side. This is the family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.”
Having the support of Malik
Payne also addressed the comments of the “Impaulsive” podcast in a July 2023 YouTube video.
“A lot of what I said came from the wrong place,” he admitted. “I was so angry at what was going on around me and instead of looking inward, I decided to look outward at everyone else and I just think, yeah, I took it out on everyone, which is just wrong , indeed.”
Addressing Malik by name, Payne added: “The rest of the guys stuck with me when I needed them the most, they kind of came to the rescue. Zayn too, so I sent him a little thank you on the internet.”
They still support each other
Payne commented on a June 2023 Instagram post that showed Malik teasing new music.
“That sounds great already,” he wrote. Malik responded, saying, “Appreciate it bro, thanks for the love.”
Forever in his heart
“Liam, I’ve found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but selfishly think that there are many more conversations to be had in our lives. I can never thank you enough for supporting me through some of the hardest times in my life,” Malik wrote on Instagram in October 2024, the day after Payne died in Argentina. “When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid , you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I loved you.”
Malik recalled thinking that even though Payne was younger than him, he was “always more reasonable,” saying, “You were stubborn, opinionated, and you didn’t give a f— about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we’ve butted heads about it a few times, I’ve always secretly respected you for it,” he continued.
The “Dusk Till Dawn” singer spoke of Payne’s musical talents, noting that he was “the most qualified in every sense.” He confessed that he was an “inexperienced rookie kid” when he met Payne. (Malik also shared a photo from their 1D days in which the two slept soundly on the street.)
“I was always happy to know that no matter what happened on stage, we could always count on you to know which way to steer the ship next,” Malik wrote. “I lost a brother when you left us and I can’t explain what I would give you just to hug you one last time and say goodbye properly and tell you I love and respect you so much. “
He concluded: “I will forever hold all the memories I have with you in my heart, there are no words to justify or explain how I feel right now, other than devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are well and at peace and know how much you are loved. I love you brother.”
Malik went on to honor Payne during a November 2024 concert. Before Malik’s show ended, the lights went off and on while a commemorative graphic was displayed. “Liam Payne 1993-2024,” the sign read. “I love you bro ❤️.” Malik’s song “Stardust” was playing in the background.
