Niall Horan admits Liam Payne’s death still feels unreal: 'He was the brightest in every room'

LONDON, ENGLAND: Singer-songwriter Niall Horan has spoken candidly about the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, sharing the emotional impact the loss has had on him and the rest of the group.

In the interview, he also admitted that the tragedy still feels difficult to process and that the grief remains present for everyone who knew him. Payne died in October 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Niall Horan opens up about Liam Payne's death

Speaking about Payne’s passing, Horan said, “We’re all still in a state of shock,” reflecting on the lingering disbelief and grief that have followed the loss. Looking back on their years together in One Direction, he recalled the memories they shared and the close bond formed during the band’s rise to global fame.

Horan stated, “All of my memories are happy. We were talking about it when we were writing it. All of our memories are traveling the world, messing around, having fun, and being teenagers. I don’t have negative memories.”

He also acknowledged the emotional difficulty of accepting Payne’s death, telling The Times of London that the loss still does not feel entirely real, even as time has passed.

The singer had also previously shared a tribute following Payne's death, writing, “I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real.”

Remembering his personality, he added, “Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.”

Horan also reflected on the friendship they shared over the years, saying, “All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.”

Niall Horan, Harry Styles remember Liam Payne

Horan recalled how much their journey together meant to him and spoke about the connection they maintained long after One Direction’s hiatus. “We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever,” he said.

He further added, “The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.” One of the most emotional parts of Horan’s reflection centered on the fact that he had seen Payne shortly before his death. Payne had attended Horan’s concert in Argentina weeks before the tragedy, giving the two a chance to spend time together.

Horan said, “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Another One Direction member, Harry Styles, also spoke about the impact of Payne’s death, telling Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in March that losing someone who was “like you in so many ways” was especially difficult.

Styles said the tragedy prompted him to reassess his own life, adding, “I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great. 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?’”