Inside Harry Styles and Liam Payne's Intimate Friendship — From Lookalike Outfits and Hair on X Factor to Shared Grief Over Relatives' Deaths
Even after One Direction announced their hiatus, Harry Styles and Liam Payne remained close, maintaining their bond until Payne's untimely passing.
Oct. 18 2024, Published 6:30 p.m. ET
July 2010
Payne and Styles auditioned for The X Factor in 2010.
Harry Styles and Liam Payne auditioned for The X Factor as individual contestants, but Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger grouped them alongside Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik in 2010.
Though they gained popularity as a band, One Direction finished third in the talent competition show.
Despite this, they flourished after The X Factor, especially when they released their first single, What Makes You Beautiful, in September 2011.
April 2013
Payne jokingly pulled down Styles' pans during a London concert in April 2013.
During One Direction's London concert in April 2013, Payne playfully pulled down Styles' pants in front of their fans midway through their What Makes You Beautiful performance.
June 2017
Payne gave an emotional tribute to Styles' stepfather when he passed away in June 2017.
Following the death of Styles' stepfather, Robin Twist, in June 2017, Payne posted a since-deleted Instagram post to pay tribute to the late patriarch.
Payne wrote: "Harry my heart really goes out to you such an extremely sad day for us all who knew Robin.
"What a kind, gentle and beautiful soul, a true rarity to find in today's world. Sometimes they really do take the best of us far too soon."
October 2017
The former bandmates reunited in October 2017 after the release of Styles' film 'Dunkirk'.
Speaking with The Sun, the Strip That Down singer revealed he bumped into his former One Direction bandmate in New York City.
Payne said: "He's been through a rough time recently. God bless him, he was really happy to see me.
"The funniest thing was we didn't really talk business. Dunkirk was out and all this was happening, and we just gave each other a big hug.
"We didn't say much but you could tell we were really happy to see each other. It was like touching home base."
December 2019
Payne and Styles perfromed at the 2019 CapitalFM Jingle Bell Ball.
Years after One Direction announced their hiatus, Payne and Styles reunited at the 2019 CapitalFM Jingle Bell Ball for their individual performances.
The Teardrops singer later shared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that they "spoke a number of things" at the time, adding: "It was good to see him, he was pretty much the same boy that I left him."
May 2022
Styles said there was 'very much a respect' and 'deep love' between the former bandmates.
Speaking with Zane Lowe, the Watermelon Sugar hitmaker opened up about his relationship with Payne and their other bandmates.
he explained in the Apple interview: "I feel really lucky that we always had each other to be this unit that felt like you could keep each other in check and have someone else who gets it.
"I feel like there's very much a respect between all of us. We did something together and that is something that you can't really undo. It's a very deep love for each other, I think."
June 2022
Payne said Styles had a 'sixth sense' for when he was struggling and called him to catch up.
During an Instagram Live, Payne disclosed he had spoken with Styles over the phone.
The Bedroom Floor singer said: "He called me because he has a sixth sense for if I'm struggling or if one of us is in trouble, I feel like. I spoke to him, and it was a really lovely catch up actually. And I've got a lot of love for the man. He's great, he's really, really great."
February 2023
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Payne paid tribute to Styles online after he won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2023.
Styles won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Harry's House at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
He said in his acceptance speech: "This album, from start to finish, has been the greatest experience of my life, from making it with two of my best friends to playing it to people has been the greatest joy I could've asked for."
Payne quickly congratulated Styles with a social media tribute.
The singer wrote: "Wow … this image is really something to wake up to and when you write music like you do Harry you deserve every millisecond of that moment looking down smiling at the trophy you've earned. God bless you brother congratulations."
October 2024
Payne's ex-bandmates issued an emotional joint statement after his death on October 16.
On Wednesday, October 16, Argentine local news outlets reported that Payne was found dead after the 31-year-old fell from the balcony of his hotel room. Buenos Aires police issued a statement confirming they were called to the CasaSur hotel due to an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol".
According to Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, authorities began investigating the tragedy and conducting an autopsy.
Following the news, Styles' mother, Anne Twist, posted an image of a broken heart emoji on Instagram, captioning it: "Just a boy…"
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