Louis Tomlinson recalls moment Niall Horan told him about Liam Payne death on Diary of a CEO

Louis Tomlinson has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he learned of former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne’s death, revealing that he was informed by fellow member Niall Horan.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast released on October 8, Tomlinson, 33, said he was in Los Angeles when Horan called him with the devastating news. The singer recalled instantly recognizing the same feeling he experienced in 2019 when his sister Félicité Tomlinson died from an accidental overdose.

“I found out through Niall while I was in the car in L.A.,” Tomlinson said. “I had the same feeling that I had with Félicité. Anyone who’s been around someone struggling knows that feeling—my 150 percent wasn’t nearly enough.”

Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Argentina. According to reports, the 31-year-old’s cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries, with toxicology results showing the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and an antidepressant in his system.

Reflecting on Payne’s final years, Tomlinson admitted that his late bandmate was “definitely struggling” at the time. “It was my own arrogance thinking I could have helped,” he said. “It was so much deeper than what I could have done for him.”

Following Payne’s death, Tomlinson posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing that he had “lost a brother” and felt “beyond lucky” to have known him. He told podcast host Steven Bartlett that sharing his grief publicly was his way of ensuring Payne was remembered as he deserved.

Tomlinson, Horan, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik attended Payne’s funeral in London last November. In a joint statement, the remaining One Direction members said they were “completely devastated” and would “treasure the memories” they shared with him forever.