RIP Liam Payne

Sorry - anguish and fear overwhelmed him. He left us a note apologising..

Kate1949

*BlueBelle*. Who knows what was going on in the poor chap's mind. I know from personal experience how mental illness can change the way you think, whatever the cause. My own brother took his own life in his 20s. It was devastating for us but I don't consider him selfish or thoughtless. He was in turmoil. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes.

My condolences 💐

Thank you. It was many years ago.

I 100% agree we cannot get inside that mind to know what anyone is thinking.
Kate1949, that is so sad about your brother, that you had no idea of his desperation.
All I can say, as a child whose father who took his life, and whose own father also killed himself when my dad was 7, you carry that burden for life. I'm not saying it's a sense of shame, but you do wonder if you were responsible, if every down moment you have is the start of your own journey, or whether the proneness for such actions will be inherited by your children. In short, it is a volcano your parent has sat you on because you can't understand how they could have done this to you.

ferry23

Such a sad story. The relentless "celebratising" of young people, be they reality stars, pop stars, sports stars is a poisoned chalice.

Those who are supposed to be supporting them - mentoring them - are not in it for altruistic reasons. The more money the "star" makes the more money they make.

It's like putting a 17 year old who has just passed their driving test into a F1 racing car and telling them the M25 is their oyster.

Another young life lost to fame and fortune

It's like putting a 17 year old who has just passed their driving test into a F1 racing car and telling them the M25 is their oyster.

In his own words, previously, he "partied too hard".

Neuroscience reveals that the adolescent brain takes a long time to mature, so it's hardly surprising that young people go off the rails when fame and fortune land on their doorstep. I think he was only 14 when he first appeared as a contestant in the X-Factor.

He once recalled an incident when the full impact of the media and fan frenzy hit him hard and made him feel that he hated his life - he went out with his mum and dad for a burger and a swarm of photographers surrounded him, one accidently pushing over his mother, and he ended up crying his eyes out.

Talented youngsters, exploited by the music industry and the media are accidents waiting to happen.

RIP young man. I cannot begin to imagine what his parents are going through.

I m sure he didn’t take his own life Kate the story so far is police were called to an agressive male, his hotel room was smashed up and then his body found having gone over the balcony and an amount of drink and drugs found in the room
A very tragic accident most likely ‘caused’ by drink and drugs
I understand fully all about mental illness do we know he was mentally ill ? I haven’t seen that reported
I think it’s a tragedy for his family he probably knew little about it
I m sure many of us on here have been effected by both mental health and seeing young people crash or die through drink and drugs I certainly have
I m in no way decrying the lad but think like many other young people especially those with money it was a tragedy waiting to happen

I think for what it is worth that this was a tragic accident while under the influence of whatever substance RosiesMaw2 I totally agree it happened with my close friends son just 21

We will never know and speculation is ghoulish.

Kate1949, I am so sorry you have suffered such an experience. My little brother died after an accidental drug overdose (a prescription drug to self medicate for anxiety) which was devastating. His anxiety was crippling, mental health difficult to find and parents who had no understanding of what he was going through or how to help him. Even when he died they went around telling everybody he'd had a heart attack because of the 'shame' he'd brought upon them.

Liam Payne was obviously a damaged soul and I hope he'll now be at peace. I feel for his son who will grow up without a dad, for Cheryl Cole who, by all accounts, tried to help him with his demons and for his family who will have probably been worried sick for years about him.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

We will never know and speculation is ghoulish.

I agree. It's fine to talk about ones own traumas, but discussing Liam here is off limits to me.

escaped and icanhandthhemback such trauma for you.

Sharon Osbourne has claimed the music industry failed Liam. How many more times are we going to hear that and how many more young, talented lives are going to have a tragic end?

The fame and wealth arrives at meteoric speed so is it any wonder young people find themselves isolated from real life and turn to drink and drugs?

And when you’ve served your masters who are driven by greed, your record company informs you you’ve been dropped - as had just happened to Liam Payne.

Poor lad. RIP.

I think the entertainment/music industry is notorious for wrecking the lives of those who can’t cope with being in the limelight all the time, surrounded by people who are just there to push drugs and drink towards you whilst basking in said limelight.
Is rank.
And if you are too young, too insecure, or have an addictive personality it really is a highly damaging career choice.
So tragic.
💔

I believe he was just 16 when he was successful in his second go at X factor. 1Ds enormous success was such that they were thrust into a world they had no experience of very quickly. I don’t know if they were cared for and looked after in those years and allowed frequent visits with family and friends. If their well being was safeguarded. It seems so easy to get into drugs and alcohol and if you are young, unsupervised and rich, super easy. I have no idea how things work in the music industry but if not already included, maybe young people in a similar position should have well being coaching and supervisory coaches to encourage sensible decision making and build for the future

Terribly sad for his little boy and the rest of his family. Bear is only 7 and to grow up knowing that your dad chose in his confused state to die will be awful for him as he grows up.Having fame from 14 and huge success and enormous wealth was clearly too much.
It sounds as if the success was over, music contract just cancelled, split from long term girlfriend, limited contact with his boy for obvious reasons and conflict with fellow band members, his years of drug and alcohol abuse just overtook. Really sad but not surprising. Poor Liam.

I feel so sorry that he felt drink and drugs was the way to soothe his anxiety. His son Bear, will carry that loss forever. I know I have I lost my dad at a similar age, and feel the loss just as much now at 65. It’s tragic.

escaped

I 100% agree we cannot get inside that mind to know what anyone is thinking.
Kate1949, that is so sad about your brother, that you had no idea of his desperation.
All I can say, as a child whose father who took his life, and whose own father also killed himself when my dad was 7, you carry that burden for life. I'm not saying it's a sense of shame, but you do wonder if you were responsible, if every down moment you have is the start of your own journey, or whether the proneness for such actions will be inherited by your children. In short, it is a volcano your parent has sat you on because you can't understand how they could have done this to you.

We are all different. My father died when I was a child, I suppose it was a slow suicide as he drank himself to death. It was how he coped with the horrors he'd gone through in WWII. I'm sad he died, I'm sad he didn't get help but I've never felt responsible or worried it would happen to me or my children. He lived through something it is hard to imagine when he was very young so I feel no shame in fact I am proud that as a teenager he travelled alone to England to join up and fight for a better society.

Babs03

I think the entertainment/music industry is notorious for wrecking the lives of those who can’t cope with being in the limelight all the time, surrounded by people who are just there to push drugs and drink towards you whilst basking in said limelight.
Is rank.
And if you are too young, too insecure, or have an addictive personality it really is a highly damaging career choice.
So tragic.
💔

I think you’re right Babs03
And certainly a tragic waste of life.

According to the Express, Liam jumped from the balcony.

www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1963700/One-Direction-Liam-Payne-jumped-hotel-room-balcony

Very sad. From comments made by his ex band members, Liam had been the glue that held the group together. Kind, loving and supportive. The media should now let him rest in peace.

They should never have been cobbled together as a boy band.
I blame Simon Cowell.
Unfortunately, he Liam Payne couldn’t cope with fame and fortune.

Such a waste.

Sharon even if the Express have got it right it doesn’t prove suicide or poor mental health or even unhappiness, under the influence of drink and drugs he may have just jumped without thought, the same way as he smashed the TV and the rest of the room up. Drink and drugs can completely alter perspectives, heights and items Talking to a lovely young man years ago who was addicted he explained how ordinary everyday items could take on a life of their own, he told me how the creases in a plastic carrier bag nearby seemed like a face that he felt he need to punch. Perhaps this young man just felt invincible and jumped the balcony with no thoughts that he was up high.
If he was mentally unwell or sad and unhappy about something it’s a dreadful shame but was he ? he was there to visit an old friend and music companion He was dancing and kissing his girlfriend a day or two before, so was he just as high as a kite
We will never know but more importantly his family will never know. Very very sad all round
I don’t think you can blame Simon Cowell Greciangirl the young man had had 15 years of fame and fortune because of him just like so many young musicians

People with mental health issues are very good at hiding how they are feeling. They can put on an act. We knew someone who seemed to have an ideal life. Lovely wife and children. Always posting on social media about his great life, holidays, nights out etc. He would be beaming on the photos. He took his own life.

That's so true, Kate1949. A few years back, a colleague worked his normal shift at my work, was his usual self, outwardly happy and chatty, then he left the office, got off the bus on his way home and jumped off a bridge.

BlueBell, surely the autopsy will show if he was full of alcohol and drugs?

So so sad. Feel so sorry for his family especially his little boy Bear who will grow up without his daddy. RIP Liam, god bless you.