Zayn ‘Lost a Brother’ in Liam—Inside Their Complex Relationship Before His Death

March 2010: Liam & Zayn meet on The X Factor

Liam Payne and Zayn Malik’s friendship began during the auditions for The X Factor. Liam, a 16-year-old from Wolverhampton, and Zayn, a 17-year-old from Bradford, were both contestants on the show, where they were later grouped with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson to form One Direction.

In a detail revealed later by Zayn during a radio interview with Rick Shea, he and Liam actually met for the first time at a producer’s meeting at McDonald’s, along with fellow contestant Aiden Grimshaw. This casual first encounter at a fast-food restaurant would mark the beginning of a friendship that would end up spanning over a decade. 

November 18, 2010: Zayn says he’s closest to Liam

Just a few months into One Direction’s journey, Zayn publicly acknowledged his growing friendship with Liam. When asked on Twitter, “Who are you closest to in the band?” Zayn didn’t mince any words: “Liam Payne,” he responded directly.

2011-2014: The One Direction Years

As One Direction’s popularity soared, Liam and Zayn’s friendship deepened. They were often seen supporting each other during interviews and performances. Their bond was clear to fans both on and off stage, with the two sharing plenty of memorable moments during the band’s world tours and public appearances.

March 2015: Zayn leaves One Direction

Zayn announced he was quitting One Direction in 2015. “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart,” he shared in a statement at the time. “I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”

Despite the potential strain this could have put on their friendship, Liam initially showed support for Zayn’s decision. However, Zayn later revealed that tensions within the band were a contributing factor to his departure. In an interview with Variety, he shared, “There was obviously underlying issues within our friendships, too. We’d got sick of each other, if I’m being completely honest.”

March 2016: Zayn reveals he still talks most to Liam

A year after leaving the band, Zayn gave an interview to NME magazine where he discussed his relationships with his former bandmates. He said, “I’m still probably the closest to Liam. We talk on the phone… We haven’t met up in a long time so we want to meet up.” However, he also noted the lack of communication with other members: “I tried to have contact, but nobody’s reached out. So… whatever.” This statement gave fans insight into the enduring nature of his friendship with Liam, even after Zayn’s departure from the band.

June 2017: Liam seemingly shades Zayn at the Glamour Awards

At the Glamour Awards in 2017, Liam made a somewhat snide comment about Zayn while presenting an award to James Corden. He said, “1D never had a slogan, but if we had, Zayn might have stayed.” This remark led to speculation about the state of their friendship, with fans wondering if it was meant in jest or if it hinted at underlying tensions.

March 2018: Liam forgets to mention Zayn on social media

When One Direction fans got #OneDirectionBestFans trending worldwide, Liam tweeted a thank you to Niall, Louis, and Harry, but didn’t mention Zayn. His tweet read, “@NiallOfficial @Louis_Tomlinson @Harry_Styles can you believe this after so long?!!! Thank you so much you guys are unbelievable.” This omission caught the attention of fans, leading to questions about the state of Liam and Zayn’s relationship.

November 2019: Liam reflects on Zayn’s exit from the band

Four years after Zayn’s exit from One Direction, Liam finally shared his lingering feelings about the situation. In an interview with British GQ, Liam revealed that he found Malik’s exit difficult to move past, alleging that Zayn never formally said goodbye to the group. “I think with Zayn’s particular exit and the way he chose to go, we haven’t really heard from him since he left,” he shared. “He didn’t even say goodbye, if I am being honest. It was a really sordid scenario, from our side certainly. A bit strange. It’s difficult.”

June 2022: Liam’s controversial comments on Logan Paul’s podcast

In 2022, Liam appeared on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast and made some controversial comments about Zayn. He stated, “There are many reasons I dislike Zayn and there are many reasons why I’ll always be on his side.” He went on to say, “If I had had to go through what he went through, through his growth and whatever else… My parents are overly supportive, to the point where it’s annoying at times, and Zayn had a different upbringing in that sense.”

Liam continued, “You can always look at the man for where he is and say, ‘That guy’s a dick’, but at the end of the day, what you understand is what he’s had to get through to get to that point and whether or not he wanted to be there.” 

During the podcast, Liam also claimed that a band member had thrown him against a wall during a backstage confrontation years prior. He said, “There was one moment where there was an argument backstage, and one member in particular threw me up a wall.” He then proudly recalled telling the other person: “If you don’t remove those hands, there’s a high likelihood you’ll never use them again.”

While Liam didn’t name the band member involved in the altercation, his ex-fiancée Maya Henry later told fans in a TikTok video that the other person in the scuffle was Zayn.

June 2022: Zayn’s subtly responds to Liam’s podcast comments

Shortly after Liam’s podcast appearance, Zayn posted a video of himself singing his high note from One Direction’s “You And I.” Many fans interpreted this as Zayn’s way of responding to Liam’s comments, showcasing his vocal abilities and reminding everyone of his contributions to the band. This came after Liam had also bragged about his solo success on the podcast, falsely claiming, “I think it outsold everybody within the band, and I was the last to go [solo]. And I never expected that.”

July 2023: Liam addresses his podcast comments

In a YouTube video discussing his sobriety journey, Liam addressed his previous comments about Zayn. He admitted, “A lot of what I said came from the wrong place. I was so angry at what was going on around me and instead of taking a look inwards I decided to look outwards at everybody else and I took it out on everybody else, which is just wrong, really.”

Liam had also taken to Twitter shortly after the initial podcast episode to clarify his thoughts: “Guys – I wouldn’t normally comment on this stuff but when it’s your family it’s hard to let it slide. They mentioned a specific incident involving Zayn which I responded to – but listening back maybe I didn’t articulate myself as well as I could have. I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on but that I will always, always be on his side. That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.”

October 2024: Zayn posts a tribute to Liam

Following Liam Payne’s death on October 16, 2024, Zayn shared a deeply emotional tribute on Instagram. “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me,” his tribute began. “I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives. I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.”

Zayn continued, reflecting on their dynamic as friends and bandmates throughout the years. “Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f—s about telling people when they were wrong,” he wrote. “Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”

He also acknowledged Liam’s musical talents: “When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, l was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.”

Zayn concluded his tribute with some final, heartfelt thoughts. “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what l’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,” he added. “I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”