Harry Styles - Liam Payne - Split - 2026

Credit: YouTube Still / Ashley Newby

Harry Styles reflects on Liam Payne’s passing: “I really struggled”

Thu 5 March 2026 11:54, UK

Harry Styles has opened up about the passing of his late friend and former One Direction band member, Liam Payne.

The singer-songwriter is set to release his latest album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occassionally, this week. In the run-up to the release, he chatted with Zane Lowe about his career so far.

Their conversation touched upon Payne’s tragic passing at the age of 31, when he fell from the balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.

“It’s so difficult to lose a friend,” Styles remarked of his death in October 2024. “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.”

He went on, “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.”

The ‘As It Was’ singer continued, “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?”

Styles reminisced about Payne’s character, adding, “I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.”

Louis Tomlinson, another One Direction bandmate, echoed this sentiment last year, when he added, “None of us would have admitted it at the time, because you have a lot of pride as a young lad, but we all looked up to him.”

Payne’s untimely passing held a mirror up to Styles’ life. From there, he revealed, he was able to say to himself, “‘OK, what do I want to do with my life? How do I want to live my life?’ And I think the greatest way you can honor your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest. Like, super special person and really sad.”

Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occassionally will be released on March 6th. Listen to the first single, ‘Aperture’, below.