Harry Styles has reflected on the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne in a new interview with Zane Lowe. Speaking as part of an Apple Music interview to promote his new album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, Styles described the loss as deeply personal.
“It’s so difficult to lose a friend,” Styles said. “It’s difficult to lose any friend, but it’s so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways.” Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Styles also spoke about the public nature of grief. “I think there was a period when he passed away where I really struggled with acknowledging how strange it is to have people own part of your grief in a way,” he said. “I have such strong feelings around my friend passing away. And then suddenly being aware of a desire from other people of you to convey that in some way, or it means you’re not feeling what you’re feeling, you know?”
Payne was a member of One Direction, which sold 70 million records and sold out stadiums worldwide. After the group disbanded, his solo work included the Top 10 hit Strip That Down. Styles remembered him as “someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great”.
Styles said Payne’s death prompted a life reevaluation. “It was a really important moment for me in terms of taking a look at my life and being able to say to myself, ‘OK, what do I want to do with my life? How do I want to live my life?’” He added: “I think the greatest way you can honour your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest.”
Styles will tour his new album, including a record-breaking 30 nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden. On Friday, he performs the album in full at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, with a Netflix stream on Sunday.
