Liam Payne, best known for competing on The X Factor and being a member of the OneDirection boy band, was reportedly "struggling with his sexuality" over the years. These new claims are coming to light a few months after the 31-year-old pop star fell from the third floor of a Buenos Aires hotel and died.
According to Rolling Stone, multiple sources claim that Payne "wrestled with his sexual identity, compounding his struggles and leading to risky behavior." The report notes that this struggle was "such a burden" that it led to Payne's reliance on "drinking and drug use."
One source told the publication that "Liam struggled with his sexuality. During his relationship with Maya [Henry], he sexted men." Payne was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Henry, a writer who was also his ex-fiancée, from 2018 to 2022. The relationship reportedly ended after Payne "accidentally broadcast sexting conversations with strangers to their TV," which is how Henry allegedly learned of their existence.
Moreover, Rolling Stone reported that Payne's "final downward spiral" included hiring two sex workers for an orgy, as well as drug use with a waiter he met at a local restaurant.
Payne's dating history as a mainstream celebrity included a relationship with Danielle Peazer between 2010 and 2013 (via Page Six). He subsequently dated a childhood friend, Sophia Smith, from 2013 through 2015.
Around 2016, Payne started dating fellow musician Cheryl Cole. This was six years after Cole met Payne for the first time as she (a judge) critiqued him (a contestant) on The X Factor. As reported by People, Payne and Cole welcomed a child together, Bear, in March 2017.
Following Payne's tragic death, Cole shared an Instagram post calling out the "exploitation" of his death, writing:
"What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future."
This story is still developing...
