Overview

• Speaking on The Diary of a CEO on October 8, Tomlinson said Niall Horan told him of Liam Payne’s death while he was in a car in Los Angeles.
• He described the moment as evoking the same feeling he had when his sister Félicité died in 2019.
• Tomlinson said Payne had been struggling at the time and reflected that his own efforts to help felt insufficient.
• He explained that his Instagram tribute aimed to ensure Payne is remembered for his gifts, calling him the most vital part of One Direction with standout vocal, writing and stage talents.
• Payne died on October 16, 2024, after a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, and separate single-source reports claim Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have discussed a Netflix docuseries, which has not been widely confirmed.