Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson’s Friendship Through the Years: ‘My Friend and Brother’

Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson were connected for life through their stint in One Direction, which became one of the most successful boy bands of all time.

But their friendship wasn’t always smooth-sailing, with the late “Teardrops” singer admitting he and Tomlinson, 32,  “hated” each other at the beginning of their boy band journey.

Later, their bond became unbreakable as they pair openly expressed their adoration for one another in recent years in touching public tributes and interviews.

As news breaks about Payne’s tragic death at age 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, October 16, Us Weekly looks back at the bromance between the two 1D stars.

Liam Payne Through the Years: Revisiting the One Direction Alum’s Life in Photos

July 2010 

After auditioning for the UK’s X Factor in 2008 but getting cut for being too young, Payne returned two years later for a second shot at fame. Along with Harry Styles, 30, Zayn Malik, 31, and Niall Horan, 31, Payne and Tomlinson were offered the chance to join forces as a boy band. When they all agreed, this marked the beginning of the pop sensation One Direction.

2013

Payne spoke about how his bond with Tomlinson and the rest of his One Direction bandmates helped him through the demands and pressures at their peak of their success.

“We just take each day as it comes,” Payne told E! News in 2013. "The thing about us is we're not taking it too seriously. We're just here to have a bit of a laugh, and then whatever else comes with it is great.”

When asked about the possibility of one day moving on to a solo career if One Direction were to disband, Payne added that he would miss the camaraderie.

"It kinda scares me a little bit to be honest with you," Payne told the outlet. “I like having the comfort of the other lads on stage.”

He added, "There's always someone to chat to."

August 2015

One Direction shocked their fans by pulling the plug on the band, but insisted at the time they were only going on “hiatus” for an estimated 18-month period.

December 2016 

In 2016, tragedy struck Tomlinson’s life when his mother Johannah Deakin died from leukemia at age 43.

Payne threw his support behind Tomlinson as he grieved, writing a heartfelt note to his bandmate, which he posted via Twitter.

“I am so sorry for you, my brother," he wrote in the note. "My heart aches for you. Just know I love you the same from a million miles away as I do right next to you. I’m always here for you through everything as you have been for me. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this incredibly sad time."

Payne added that he "can’t begin to imagine what you are all going through," and signed off by penning "RIP, Johannah, you are forever in my thoughts.”

2019

Payne opened up about the early days of One Direction and how he and Tomlinson got off on the wrong foot initially.

In an interview with Hits Radio, Payne confessed that he and Tomlinson “absolutely hated each other” at the start.

“When we were in the band it kind of felt like, because he was the oldest and because I'd been singing for quite a bit of time we both got put in a weird position,” Payne told the outlet.

“He was wanting to be the leader and I was doing my thing and wanted to. So at first we didn't get on at all. We absolutely hated each other, it was so funny. Really bad. We hid it well.”

March 2019

Tragedy struck again in 2019 when Tomlinson’s younger sister Félicité died of a drug overdose at age 18 in London.

The deaths of Félicité and Johanna featured in Tomlinson’s documentary “All of Those Voices” which was released in 2023.

October 2021

Payne again reflected on his relationship with Tomlinson over the years while speaking to ET Canada in October 2021.

“Me and Louis did not get along. We all got thrown together, and we didn’t know each other when got made into a band,” Payne said. “Now we are actually the best of friends within the band, which I think is absolutely hilarious … I think even in those moments of angst it breathes a connection between you both.”

May 2022

Appearing on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast in May 2022, Payne caused controversy by speaking candidly about his “rowdy” bandmates, including Tomlinson.

“Louis was wild. And he wanted to be wild. That’s his spirit,” Payne said. “He’s my best mate now but in the band, we hated each other. Like, come-to-blows hated each other. It was close.”

September 2022

While Payne received much backlash following his comments on the podcast, Tomlinson later publicly defended the “Strip That Down” singer while appearing on podcast, “The Zach Sang Show.”

"It wasn’t too bad," Tomlinson said in September 2022. "When I first went online and I’d seen the fans… I was waiting for it to kick off".

Tomlinson acknowledged the difficulties and pressures celebrities face, describing their jobs as “challenging”.

"We all make mistakes of having these judgements when we watch videos or whatever it might be. Let me say this job is f—ing challenging at times, mentally very f—ing challenging at times. And I know no one who’s listening to this wants to f–king hear that cause you know we’ve got it good, I appreciate that."

March 2023

After attending the premiere of Tomlinson’s documentary “All of Those Voices”, Payne reflected on not being around enough for Tomlinson as he faced some of his toughest personal challenges.

“Seeing the world through your eyes last night was the most beautiful thing to experience,” Payne wrote via an Instagram tribute post in March 2023. “My neck hurts from how much I’m looking up to you right now you were already my friend and brother but getting to look through that window into your world and mind just extends that respect I have for you. What you’ve dealt with and how you held it all inside. I’m so sorry I was so out of my mind and didn’t do better for you. I feel ashamed in those moments to not be as good of a friend as you have been to me, at least I have time now and I’m me again so will try and make amends.”

Inside Liam Payne’s Bond With His Former One Direction Members

Payne also paid tribute to Tomlinson for being such a good friend to him.

“I’m so thankful to have you in my life mate,” Payne wrote. “I feel so lucky and I know you know this but you were part of a small group of people that literally saved my life, you dragged me out of something so dark I’ve never shared it, but your approach is something I admire and aspire to so I can one day do the same.”

For his part, Tomlinson showed his appreciation that Payne attended the premiere by writing via X, “It means the absolute world. Love you lad!”

October 2024

“I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul,” Tomlinson began his October 2024 Instagram tribute to Payne, who died on October 16 at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

He recalled, “I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for. Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.”

Tomlinson noted, “And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.”

Tomlinson then added a message “to you Liam if you’re listening” and gushed about their friendship.

“I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,” he wrote. “I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.”

Tomlinson concluded, “I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. I wish I got [a] chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”