Niall Horan reflects on Liam Payne’s death: ‘It still feels surreal’

Niall Horan has opened up about the loss of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, saying he is thankful that their final meeting together remains a positive memory.

The 32-year-old singer last saw Payne in Argentina just days before the former One Direction star’s death in October 2024, when Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony. Horan said that final interaction now carries special meaning for him, even as he continues to process the shock of the loss.

“I’m glad of that, it means my last memory of him was happy,” Horan told The Sunday Times’ Culture magazine.

“It still feels surreal. On day one I was like, ‘Nah, it didn’t happen.’ Our friendship was a bond that was there forever even if we hadn’t seen each other for a while, and it’s wild that one day, like the flick of a switch, he’s gone.”

Horan described grief as a mixture of “light and shade,” explaining that while Payne’s passing brings sadness, it also triggers fond memories from their years together in One Direction.

“When I think of Liam’s passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh and smirk because of the memories we had,” he said.

“I’ll go to places and think of something stupid in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh.”

He recalled their shared time traveling as a band, particularly in Australia, where they would spend time at the beach and unwind together.

Horan also joked about Payne’s surfing skills, adding lightheartedly, “Liam wasn’t too bad at surfing. I can barely swim.”

The singer added that he remains in contact with Payne’s family, noting that the grief has been shared beyond the band itself.

“All our families are in touch, they shared those experiences too,” he said.

Horan also revealed that his upcoming album Dinner Party includes a tribute track titled End of an Era, which he believes reflects Payne’s musical taste.

“I think it’s his type of song,” he said. “He liked Coldplay, he loved songs like You and I by One Direction, songs that went somewhere.”

He added that reflecting on Payne’s preferences now feels even more emotional in hindsight, given their shared history.

While the remaining members of One Direction have yet to hear the track, Louis Tomlinson has also written a tribute song for Payne titled Dark to Light.

Horan said seeing fans respond to tributes during recent performances highlighted how deeply Payne’s loss is still felt by audiences.

“It’s hard, you can’t tell someone that you don’t know him if they feel like they do,” he said. “It’s part of why people like bands, they are attracted to different personalities, they have their favourite.”