Former boyband pop star Ronan Keating has slammed the music industry following the death of Liam Payne.
The 47-year-old Irishman was a friend of the One Direction star, who died aged 31 after falling from a balcony. in Buenos Aires earlier this month.
During a talk at The Kyle and Jackie O Show On Friday, the Boyzone artist criticized the industry for putting teenagers in the spotlight without adequately preparing them for the challenges of showbiz.
Describing Payne as the “nicest guy”, Keating said he last saw the beloved star more than a year ago in Dubai before sharing his own experience when he was 16 and entered the pop world.
“These boys were trained at such a young age,” he said sadly.
Like Keating, Payne was just 16 years old when he joined One Direction in 2010.
He continued: ‘The industry is a really difficult and tough place. There’s really no one there to manage that for all of us kids… and guide us through it.
Former boyband pop star Ronan Keating opened up about the pressures of fame following the death of Liam Payne during an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday. The 47-year-old Irishman was friends with the One Direction star, who died aged 31 after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires earlier this month. (Pictured)
“Nobody gives you any kind of media training. No one helps you deal with what is about to happen.
Keating added that when he appeared on television shows such as The X Factor and The Voice, the producers provided a psychologist to help the performers.
The No Matter What hitmaker said he has never experienced any mental health counseling in the recording industry.
During his talk, the Boyzone singer criticized the music industry for putting teenagers in the spotlight without adequately preparing them for the challenges of show business. In the photo: Liam Payne on the red carpet in 2023
“None of that was there… when a record company or a management company starts a band, there’s none of that kind of stuff,” he said.
“The only thing they care about is making it work financially,” co-host Kyle Sandilands added.
“Absolutely,” agreed Keating, adding that Payne’s tragic and untimely death can lead to positive changes in the music industry.
Keating made the comments ahead of his appearance at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The popular singer will make an exclusive visit to Flemington Racecourse on November 7 to perform as part of the Crown Oaks Day festivities.
He will also perform a smaller performance for lucky guests at the VRC Crown Oaks Club luncheon on November 6 before his main performance the following day.
Keating rose to fame alongside Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy, Michael ‘Mikey’ Graham and Stephen Gately in the 90s boyband Boyzone, formed by pop manager Louis Walsh.
The group achieved international fame, as well as six UK number ones, including Words, No Matter What, All That Matters To Me and You Needed Me.
The band officially broke up in 2000, but they often get back together for landmark tours, including the Back Again… No Matter What tour in 2009, which was the last time they performed as a quintet before Stephen’s death.
The band also reunited in 2013 to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a tour and new releases.
Describing Payne as the “nicest guy”, Keating said he last saw the beloved star more than a year ago in Dubai before sharing his own experience when he was 16 and entered the pop world.
In 2018, Boyzone confirmed their plans to split for good after releasing one final album dedicated to their late bandmate Stephen.
Stephen died tragically and suddenly in 2009 from a congenital heart defect at the age of 33.
It comes after Payne fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.
Local police said they were initially responding to a 911 call “from an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”
Authorities heard a loud sound in the yard before discovering his body shortly after 5 p.m., the BBC reported.
According to TMZ, Liam “had been acting erratically in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop” before he “had to be taken back to his room.”