Liam Payne, Zayn Malik’s Complicated Relationship After One Direction

Liam Payne and Zayn Malik experienced a series of ups and downs over the years.

Both musicians were thrust into the spotlight alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson while on The X Factor in 2010 to form One Direction. After releasing four albums as a group, Malik announced his departure from the boy band in March 2015.

“He had to do what he had to do really, for himself,” Payne said of Malik during a May 2015 interview. “It’s fine. We’re just going to carry on doing what we’re doing. We wish him all the best with whatever he goes into and stuff. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

The boy band continued without Malik, releasing one more record before their December 2015 hiatus.

As One Direction went their separate ways and the guys kicked off their solo endeavors, Payne (who died at age 31 in October 2024) offered insight into some of the band’s dynamics — including his relationship with Malik.

Related: Everything the One Direction Alums Have Said About Leaving the Band

Musical superstars. Pop boy band One Direction became one of the biggest groups of the 2010s after its five members — Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik — met as contestants on the reality television series The X factor in 2010. The five singers became a group at judge Simon Cowell’s […]

Keep scrolling to see Payne and Malik’s ups and downs over the years:

No Bad Blood

In 2017, Payne said all was “fine and good” with Malik despite the “Pillowtalk” singer’s negative comments about being in the group.

“If he feels hurt and scorned in some sort of way that I don’t really understand, that’s down to him so there we go,” Payne shared on “The Dan Wootton Interview” podcast at the time. “It is very sad because One Direction was a wonderful, wonderful time in all of our lives.”

Subtle Shade Toward Malik

“Zayn makes music, but he doesn’t really perform,” Payne stated on the “Killing It” podcast in April 2020. “For him, he had such performance anxiety that he just couldn’t put his head around it.”

Payne recalled watching Malik’s “really great” first solo performance after leaving the group.

“I think he is just kind of happy,” Payne speculated. “He likes going to the studio, making the songs, he just doesn’t want to do anything that happens after that. But he is streaming hugely.”

The TikTok Poking Fun

In September 2021, Payne posted a now-viral TikTok poking fun at Malik’s departure from One Direction and asked fans to “see the funny side” of it.

Payne could be seen mouthing the words: “Are we absolutely sure what direction we’re going?” He wrote, “POV the meeting after Zayn quit,” on the screen.

The Podcast Drama

Payne admitted there were “many reasons” why he didn’t like Malik during a May 2022 appearance on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast. However, the “Strip That Down” singer said there are “many reasons” why “he’ll always be on [Malik’s] side” too.

Most notably, Payne referenced Mailk’s upbringing and compared their home lives while growing up.

“My parents are overly supportive to the point where it’s annoying at times. Zayn had a different upbringing in that sense,” Payne shared. “You can always look at the man for where he is and say, ‘Oh, yeah, whatever, that guy’s a d—.’ But at the end of the day, once you’re understanding what he’s been through to get to that point — and also whether or not he wanted to be there.”

Related: Former One Direction Members: Where Are They Now?

The One Direction days are over, but Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have continued to make music — and headlines — over the years. After forming and finishing in third place on the U.K.’s version of The X Factor in 2010, One Direction released four successful studio albums — […]

During the same interview, Payne notoriously noted that he and one of his former One Direction band members “hated each other” during their time in the band. (Payne’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry has since revealed he was talking about Malik.)

“Like, come to blows hate each other, it was close,” he said. “There was one moment where there was an argument backstage, and one member in particular threw me up a wall.”

Following the comments, Malik posted a since-deleted video of him singing his famous riff from One Direction’s “You & I,” which fans took as a response.

Payne’s Apology

The following month, Payne seemingly addressed the podcast comments.

“I wouldn’t normally comment on this stuff but when it’s your family it’s hard to let it slide,” he shared via X in June 2022. “They mentioned a specific incident involving Zayn which I responded to — but listening back maybe I didn’t articulate myself as well as I could have.”

The social media post continued: “I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on but that I will always, always be on his side. That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.”

Having Malik’s Support

Payne also addressed the “Impaulsive” podcast comments in a July 2023 YouTube video.

“A lot of what I said came from the wrong place,” he admitted. “I was so angry at what was going on around me and instead of taking a look inwards I decided to look outwards at everybody else and I just think, yeah, I took it out on everybody else, which is just wrong, really.”

Addressing Malik by name, Payne added: “The rest of the boys really stuck by me when I needed them most, they kinda came to the rescue. Even Zayn, as well, which is why I did send him a little thank you online.”

Still Supporting Each Other

Payne commented on a June 2023 Instagram post that showed Malik teasing new music.

“This sounds big already,” he wrote. Malik replied, saying, “Appreciate it bro, thanks for the love.”

Forever in His Heart

“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there are so many more conversations for us to have in our lives. I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life,” Malik wrote via Instagram in October 2024, one day after Payne died in Argentina. “When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know that you were my friend and that I loved.”

Malik recalled thinking that although Payne was younger than him, he was “always more sensible,” saying, “You were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f— about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it,” he continued.

The “Dusk Till Dawn” singer gushed about Payne’s musical talents, noting that he was “the most qualified in every sense.” He confessed that he was a “novice child with no experience” when he met Payne. (Malik also shared a photo from their 1D days in which the two slept soundly on the road.)

“I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next,” Malik wrote. “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.”

He concluded: “I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”

Malik went on to honor Payne during a November 2024 concert. Before the encore of Malik’s show, the lights flicked off and on as a memorial graphic was shown. “Liam Payne 1993-2024,” the sign read. “Love you bro ❤️.” Malik’s song “Stardust” played in the background.