Remembering the early genius of Liam Payne

By Sarah Tettah

The world is mourning the tragic death of popstar Liam Payne. The Liam I knew and spent time with after he shot to fame on the X Factor was more than just a popstar, a father, and a treasured friend, he had so many layers to him that made him a superstar.
But behind the handsome smile, was a seriousness, and ultimately a sadness that the One Direction singer did his best to bravely fight each and every day.
Here I take a look back at his early genius as he burst onto our screens after finding fame on the X Factor with One Direction, to his heartbreaking final days.
Harry Styles passes me a Krispy Kreme from the box of doughnuts in front of us as we settle down to conduct a catch-up interview in a music shop in the West End.
As Harry saddles up besides me and decides to grab an ice-glazed doughnut and try to feed it to me himself, his band-mate Liam looks over and shakes his head.
‘Harry… Come on now,’ he says, as he checks his band-mate.
On another very memorable occasion, the bunch of fresh-faced lads bundled into our office on the 21st floor of Canary Wharf, to give us the very first listen of their debut single in 2011.
As they played us What Makes You Beautiful, Harry and Niall started dancing and playing air guitar, little did they know that tune would catapult them to fame and make them the biggest boyband in the world.
As we got down to business, One Direction were there to for a famous music column take-over, straight away, it was clear to see their characters come to life.
While Niall and Harry were the cheeky-chappies, grabbing our telephones to answer our hotline for the public to call in, and gossiping away with them, laid- back Zayn and Louis would be chilled out and so down to earth.
Harry would hold court with the ladies, buzzing with excitement that they were just about to head to the States with their new music.
Liam, on the other hand, was noticeably different. He had that sophistication, and aura that showed he was certainly wise beyond his years. He was more serious, they had a job to do, and they were there to do.
In later years, when a 24-year-old Liam got together with popstar Cheryl, then 34, it was hardly surprising they would gel.
The power couple may have raised eyebrows with their age-gap at first, but it worked for them. His maturity and no-nonsense attitude was certainly a big draw.
Cheryl had found the guy to finally put the spring back in her step after two high-profile marriages. The world watched as Liam was a ‘new man’ with the birth of their adorable son Bear a year later, which gave him ‘purpose in his life’.
After their romance ended, it came as no surprise Cheryl and Liam always led with love as they co-parented their boy. Each of them sharing rare and occasional snippets of his incredible growth and sweet nature, how he loved the finer things in life like sushi from a young age, and Liam also reflected that Bear was his ‘mini-me’ joking ‘as if we needed another one.’
As time passed, Liam aligned himself with the fashion crowd. With his chiseled looks and laid-back character, he soon caught the eye of then Vogue editor Edward Enninful, and his best friend catwalk queen Naomi Campbell.
Naomi and Liam hit headlines after they were ‘hanging out together’ and were even rumoured to be dating.
Liam was at home with his new ‘family’ and was truly loved by them all. He seamlessly fitted in with them as they attended Afrobeats king Davido’s concert together – and he even joined them on a trip to Ghana where he cosied up to Naomi for the celebrations.
A source told me: “Liam was so sweet, kind and so polite. He was laid back and was cool to hang around with. Everyone adored him.”
So Liam’s friends from all his walks of life as well as his fans were left shocked and dumbfounded by the news of his sudden death in Argentina on Wednesday of last week.
As tributes poured in for Liam, who passed away after falling from a third floor balcony, one resounding message wrang through. ‘Be kind’.
While the world knew he was fighting demons – he poured his heart out about his personal struggles during interviews and on his social media, several fans and famous friends were left asking ‘what was being done to make sure he was okay?’
Sharon Osborne said in her tribute to Liam, who she knew from her X Factor days, that ‘the music industry let you down’ as fans called for more after-care for stars of top TV shows, long after they leave.
As his band-mates mourn him, with Zayn Malik posting a sweet throwback shot together with the heartbreaking message, ‘love you, bro,’ Liam’s tragedy resonates with so many, including Robbie Williams who said: “I still had my demons at 31. I relapsed. I was in pain. I was in pain because I relapsed. I relapsed because of a multitude of painful reasons. I remember Heath Ledger passing and thinking ‘I’m next’’. By the grace of God and/or dumb luck I’m still here.”
As the world remembers Liam, the gentle but loving ‘boss man’ of One Direction, Irishman and best pal Niall, who Liam had flown out to see perform in Argentina, remembered Liam, saying: “I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real. 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.”
Their pal Ed Sheeran summed it up the mood of the nation in an emotional Instagram post. Ed said: “At a loss for words. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, every memory I have with him is a great one, just such a heartbreaking situation. Be kind.”

Liam Payne and girlfriend Kate Cassidy attending the premiere of All Of Those Voices at Cineworld in central London Picture: PA