It’s an incredibly sad week for girls in their 20s who were raised by One Direction. Liam Payne tragically passed away on October 16 after falling from a balcony at his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was only 31. Liam was of course known for his musical talent, but he was also hilarious, charismatic, and a close friend to his former bandmates. Celebrities like Charlie Puth and Zedd are starting to share their reactions to the awful news, and Directioners everywhere are mourning and looking back on Liam’s remarkable career. As we all process this devastating loss together, let’s take a walk down memory lane and appreciate some of Liam Payne’s best One Direction moments.
Liam Payne’s Best One Direction Moments
The X Factor audition that started it all
Thank goodness Liam decided to audition again in 2010 after being eliminated from The X Factor two years prior. He impressed the judges with a charming rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Cry Me a River,” and the rest is history.
His beloved verse in “More Than This”
more than this has always been one of my favorite one direction songs and hearing liam payne in this song was always one of the most beautiful parts of this song pic.twitter.com/FAkMtrHkwJ
— chynna | (sasha alexander’s version) (@chynnaalexisss) October 16, 2024
Fans always appreciated Liam’s vulnerable and beautifully sung verse in the 2011 One Direction track, “More Than This,” which was the fourth single from their debut album, Up All Night.
When he wore that banana suit
At a 2015 One Direction show in Helsinki, Louis helped Liam throw on a banana suit (because of course). “This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever worn,” Liam said, laughing.
His famous fear of spoons
Real Directioners know that Liam would never go near a spoon that wasn’t in his own house. In several band interviews, the singer was very open about his “strange fear” and “dislike” of spoons and the fact that he avoided eating soup in restaurants because of it.
The iconic turtle story
We all remember Liam’s insane interview story about his two pet turtles, Boris and Archimedes. One time when he came back from tour, he discovered that one of his turtles had eaten the other one’s foot. Fans lost their minds at Liam’s dry delivery of: “I came home one day and my turtle was just missing a foot.” Louis joked that Liam lives a “crazy life.”
His adorable friendship with Louis
Lilo (Liam and Louis) was one of the famous close friendships within the band, and Liam and Louis had countless adorable friendship moments on stage and in interviews.
Him as Leroy the choreographer in the “Best Song Ever” music video
Liam playing Leroy the choreographer in this wild music video lives rent free in my mind. The blonde wig, the pink headband, the high voice, the weird cheerleader-esque dance… this was everything.
RIP, Liam.