Horan speaks about their final meeting
Niall Horan has opened up about the emotions he experienced after the death of former group member Liam Payne. In an interview with GQ, the singer said he felt fear, sadness, and many of the difficult emotions that come with grief. Payne died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2024 at 31 years old. The “Slow Hands” singer explained that he had seen Payne only a few days before his death, while he was touring South America. Payne had scheduled the trip to see Horan in his Buenos Aires show and renew his US visa in that same city. According to the singer, their meeting was positive, and the two shared laughs and memories.
The initial reactions following Payne’s passing
After Horan finished his South American tour and returned home, Payne stayed in Argentina because of delays in his visa process. On October 16, 2024, Liam Payne died after falling from the third floor of a Buenos Aires hotel. The “This Town” hitmaker said he found out while he was at home in bed watching television. He recalled getting the message about his passing and immediately having an emotional rollercoaster.
“I just remember getting a message, and I was just like, What?… I just didn’t think it was real. Someone so young, you’re not expecting to hear that they’ve passed, especially someone that you’ve just seen. I just went back from shock to sadness to anger.”
Finding new confidence after stepping back
my brand new album ‘dinner party’ will be yours june 5th .
pre-order now at https://t.co/gfs2tt05iW pic.twitter.com/SxRZ28Ythx
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) March 18, 2026
The artist also reflected on the memories that returned after Payne’s death, including photos and videos from their years growing up together in One Direction. He revealed that those memories brought both nostalgia and pain. Following his former bandmate’s funeral, Horan pulled away from the public eye for a while to grieve in private. This period inspired a new song titled “End of An Era,” which will be featured on Niall Horan’s upcoming album, “Dinner Party.” The project is slated for release on June 5, 2026.