Liam Payne opened up about his fear of lonely hotel rooms and hitting rock bottom in a heartbreaking clip which has resurfaced following his death aged 31 in Argentina.
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 screwed him up.”
Payne said the worst part was being “locked up” in hotel rooms after performing, three years before he was thrown to death from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
“My dad said it from day one: Lonely hotel rooms, man, being locked in that room is no fun when you’ve been exposed,” the late singer said.
Payne also told podcast host Steven Barltett that he had some “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 screwed him up.”
“I was worried about how far my fund was going to go,” he shared. ‘Where is the bottom for me? You would never have seen it. I’m very good at hiding it. Nobody would have ever seen it.
Liam added: “Bottom… I mean, I don’t even know if I’ve hit rock bottom yet… I can make that decision now and speed up my last bottom moment or I can make a new one.” .’
He talked about a concert in Dubai where he was initially worried no one would show up, but ended up breaking attendance records and being compared to Michael Jackson.
“I came back to my hotel room and I was sitting in my room in a chair like this,” Payne said, putting on a surprised expression.
Payne explained that he was in such a state of shock after the Dubai show that he canceled a trip to the Maldives with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole and their son Bear.
Describing what he felt at that moment, he continued: “You know, like in a movie where they throw a grenade and it explodes and then everyone’s like, ‘Oh my God…”‘
One of Liam Payne’s last selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: “Beautiful day in Argentina.”
(From left) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne in 2010
Payne had been open about his struggle with alcoholism and posted a video in July 2023 on his YouTube channel saying 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, causing “extremely serious injuries.” Doctors confirmed his death on the spot, according to the statement.
Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call shortly after 5 p.m. local time, warning of an “aggressive man who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the statement added.
The hotel manager can be heard in a 911 call saying they had “a guest who is overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol… He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone out, please.”
The manager’s voice became more anxious as the call progressed, noting that the room had a balcony.
Fans light candles as they pay tribute to Liam Payne at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires last night
Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Gray Payne, with his ex-girlfriend, musician Cheryl, known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud.
He was a judge on ‘X Factor’ during the One Direction 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.
