Just before Liam Payne’s unexpected death, The X Factor was looking back at how One Direction got its start.
The group finished third in season 7 of the UK hit music competition show in 2010, and with the meteoric success it experienced in the years that followed, it’s easy to forget how it all began.
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Payne all auditioned for the show individually before the judges decided to have them compete as a group. After just a few weeks rehearsing together, the 2010s boyband powerhouse was born.
A scan of The X Factor’s Instagram page shows that the franchise is proud of its role in creating the pop sensation that went on to sell more than 70 million records. It often features photos and videos of its members from their times on the show (on Jan. 1, 2023, they wished followers “A Harry New Year.”)
Lately, The X Factor had been revisiting the old One Direction video diaries — and those posts have become a place for fans to remember Payne, who died on Wednesday, October 16 after falling from his hotel balcony. He was 31.
The most recent video diary that the account shared came on October 2 and featured One Direction members answering a fan-submitted question: “What’s your favorite chat-up line?”
Payne and Horan both claimed not to have one, but Tomlinson gave the funniest answer of, “Will you marry me?”
“Miss you liam💔 May his soul rest in peace,” one fan wrote in the comments.
A month before, they shared another video, this time with a fan asking what each would be doing if they were not on The X Factor. Payne said he would be building airplanes. Other questions included what members look for in a partner (Tomlinson likes girls who eat carrots) and what role each group member fills (“Zayn is vain”).
The day after Payne’s death, the account shared a more heartfelt post, showing Payne smiling in a black-and-white photo.
“We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne,” the caption read. “He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.”
Even more fans rushed to the comments with their support.
One wrote, “Gone too soon, troubled but talented & he deserved better in the end.”
“Liam, You’ve changed millions of lives and for this, we are forever grateful to you and your music!” another added. “Now the angels will take care of you while we will be staying here, keeping you always in our thoughts and prayers.Rest in peace Liam.”
Malik, Styles, Tomlinson and Horan also released a joint statement which read, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
