Inside Liam Payne's struggle to cope with life outside One Direction ...
SEVEN years as a band propelled One Direction from suburban anonymity to global stardom – with all the trappings of fame and fortune its teenage members could dream of.
But 13 years after Simon Cowell first united the five young strangers at the height of The X Factor’s power, they have faced widely varied fortunes.
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Liam Payne, 30, was this week back in hospital in Italy battling fresh health concerns amid ongoing kidney problems.
Predictably, it sparked worry among the group’s still devoted legion of fans — as many linked the overseas ambulance dash to his history of addiction issues which have seen him spend time in rehab.
As one pal put it: “It doesn’t come as a huge surprise — his life- style has been on a bit of a downward spiral for a while.”
As Liam rests up in his hospital bed, supported by girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 24, fans will be hoping his recovery sparks an upturn in health, rather than prolonging a recent spate of wellbeing woes.
Yesterday, his mum Karen revealed she is “worried sick” about him and feels “helpless” over his most recent scare, adding: “All we can really do is sit it out here and hope for the best.
"We feel helpless. It’s such a horrible situation and we just hope he’s in the best place possible.”
Liam’s inner circle fear the Wolverhampton-born singer has been on a non-stop party since 1D announced their hiatus in 2015 — amid claims he was never previously allowed to truly enjoy the band’s success or have the freedom to do as he pleased.
The pal added: “Liam struggled so much in the band due to the heavy workload and being in the spotlight.
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“He was just a normal lad before One Direction, so living life in this bubble felt alien to him and the restrictions really took their toll.
“His partying since the band’s break could well be a reaction to this.”
Liam has been brutally honest about his health issues in recent years, including his admission that he spent time in a US wellness clinic last year after he “hit rock bottom”.
He also told how a mystery respiratory illness left him floored in 2021.
However, worryingly for fans, he hinted that there have been other incidents he has yet to make public.
Liam has suffered kidney problems since he was a baby, when doctors discovered his organ was scarred after he was born premature, resulting in him having to have 16 injections in his arm, morning and night.
As he got older the physical ailments deteriorated, but were overtaken by mental health concerns when Liam admitted turning to alcohol and drugs to hide how he struggled to cope with One
Direction’s dizzying levels of fame — which would spark panic attacks and high levels of exhaustion.
In 2021, he blamed a “pills and booze phase” for bloating his face to “ten times the size”, while also revealing he used to guzzle the contents of his mini bar when band chiefs checked the lads into hotels to keep fans at bay.
But there are other reasons why followers have been left concerned for Liam’s welfare.
He has come across as erratic in interviews by making bizarre claims, including that Cowell built One Direction around his talents and that his solo career has been the most successful of all his bandmates.
Liam also made strange comments about his romance with ex-girlfriend Cheryl Tweedy, saying their 2018 split was partly down to their son Bear, now six.
Since breaking up with Cheryl, Liam’s love life has been just as turbulent as his health worries.
He was linked to supermodel Naomi Campbell, 53, in 2019.
And he had an on-off, three-year relationship with ex-fiancée Maya Henry, 22, which was said to have ended for good in May last year.
Then pictures emerged of him with his arms around American modeL Aliana Mawla, 25.
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He began dating Kate last year, but they briefly split before getting back together in June.
Fans have also been left curious by his physical appearance after pictures of his face sparked speculation he had undergone cosmetic surgery.
Beauty experts believed he’d had fat removal and work done on his jawline, which would be rare for a man of his age in good shape.
Liam’s health woes come as his One Direction bandmate Harry Styles, 29, continues to thrive — having established himself as one of the world’s leading music artists.
He has released highly credible solo studio albums, as well as winning three Grammys and six Brit awards.
Harry’s clean-living and modest ways contrast heavily with Liam’s.
But Liam is not alone in living in Harry’s shadow, as his other band-mates have struggled to match the heart-throb’s success since One Direction’s hiatus, which for some can be put down to personal hardship.
Louis Tomlinson, 31, has been plagued by tragedy after his sister Felicite passed away in 2019 following an accidental drug overdose at the age of 18.
Three years earlier his mother Johannah, 43, lost her battle with leukaemia.
Father-of-one Louis went on to record a No1 album and enjoyed his fair share of wild partying.
But he has not reached Harry’s heights and recently admitted he was gutted when One Direction’s indefinite break was announced.
He said: “When One Direction split up, I was mortified, I was genuinely gutted.
"I was a bit bitter, I suppose, because it just felt like another loss to me.
“But I’ve a better understanding of things now, and there’s not as much anger. It is what it is.”
Zayn Malik, who quit the band in 2015, enjoyed a promising start as a solo singer.
He made US and UK chart history by going straight to No 1 in both countries with debut album Mind Of Mine.
But the star, 30, has become better known for his personal life than his music after an alleged altercation with Yolanda Hadid, mum of his then-girlfriend Gigi.
He split with the model, 28, in 2021.
Zayn has remained largely out of the limelight ever since, continuing to bring up daughter Khai, who is almost three, with Gigi.
But he recently appeared on a podcast where he admitted his decision to quit the band came from a desire to become the first 1D member with a solo career.
However his last two albums failed to make a chart impact.
The final star, Niall Horan, 30, has released three albums since 1D took a break.
His biggest hit remains the single Slow Hands.
He is regarded as a solid working musician, but has yet to bag any major awards as a solo artist, with some critics suggesting he is “too bland” to be a major star.
However, Niall continues to be the most down to earth and relatable member of One Direction, which he credits to his “Irishness”.
Speaking in June, he said: “I’m very carefree, kind of ‘cross that bridge when I come to it’, and I just keep going along with things and see what happens.
“The Irishness plays a big part, I think. It’s just the way we are, there is no grey area when you’re Irish. There’s a humbleness to it.
“I know you shouldn’t really say that, but there is, I guess.”
How Liam must wish his life was as easy going.
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