Harry Styles on Liam Payne's death: It's so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways'

"It's so difficult to lose a friend. 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. 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."

"I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great. His death was a really important moment for me in terms of taking a look at my life and being able to say to myself, OK, what do I want to do with my life? How do I want to live my life? The greatest way you can honor your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest."

"Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure."

Harry Styles discussed the death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne in an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe. Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires. Styles described the difficulty of losing a friend so similar to himself and struggled with how others wanted to participate in his grief. He remembered Payne as someone with a kind heart who wanted to be great, and viewed his death as a moment to reflect on how to live life to the fullest. Other One Direction members recalled Payne as a positive, infectious presence with a cheeky sense of humor who brightened every room.

Read at www.theguardian.com