Liam Payne rose to fame as a member of One Direction. However, he was also a singer and songwriter in his own right. But, for his last live performance, he didn’t sing one of his tunes. Instead, he performed a song by another teen idol, who was a reported rival of Payne’s iconic band.
Liam Payne performed a Justin Bieber hit in 2022
The former One Direction singer and songwriter last performed live in 2022. Per Setlist FM, Liam Payne’s final performance took place in April 2022 at a private birthday party in the Bahamas. His last public performance was two months earlier, on February 12, 2022, at a private London venue.
He sang four songs. Payne performed “Heartless,” “Polaroid,” and One Direction’s “Infinity.” He closed the set with Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.”
Performing this tune was ironic, as there was a reported rivalry between the members of One Direction and Justin Bieber. The teen idols were wildly popular around the same time.
What were the issues between One Direction and Justin Bieber?
As with the case of any young artists jockeying for the same audience, there was a bit of a reported rivalry between Justin Bieber and the members of One Direction. In an interview with IMPAULSIVE, Payne revealed, “This stuff just happens. We had a similar thing with The Wanted.”
“With the Bieber one, I think it was me. We [One Direction] used to go back to the hotel and I’d get absolutely wasted,” he continued.
“We used to play this game called Ring of Fire and every card would mean something. I was drunk and someone said something to me online about Justin Bieber, but I didn’t mean to offend him, I wanted to offend them. That’s where something can go wrong if you’re fighting with someone online for no reason. So I said ‘The only thing that’s different between me and him is that I haven’t been arrested.’”
“Later, I was at an awards show and I thought I would go say hello to him. We started talking and I told him I did all of the things he did, but I’ve never been caught for them. And I said, ‘I’ve always really felt for you mate and in our situation, we all suffer from the same disease.’”
Liam Payne offered to mentor new artists struggling in the spotlight
Having been famous on a global level, Liam Payne understood fame’s dangers. Therefore, he was always willing to lend a helping hand to mentor new artists who struggled in the spotlight.
To IMPAULSIVE he said admitted he would talk to anyone who needed help. “I say this to every young kid coming into this business,” Payne began.
“As soon as I meet them I say, ‘If you want to call me, and any help I can give you I will give you. And if I can’t I’ll find somebody who can.’ He added that as part of fame, it’s best if artists stick together rather than fight.
Liam Payne died at age 31 of a fall onto the balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 16, 2024. He is survived by his son with Cheryl Cole, his parents, and two sisters.
