**‘Impossibly difficult’: Louis Tomlinson on Coming to Terms with Liam Payne’s Death**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 08, 2025, 05:16 pm*
Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson has opened up about the “impossibly difficult” journey of coming to terms with the death of his bandmate, Liam Payne.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone UK, Tomlinson reflected on the pain surrounding their 15th anniversary, saying, “It was really uncomfortable, actually, the 15th anniversary. Because the [collective] feeling to celebrate is as important, if not more important, than ever, on behalf of Liam.”
### Emotional Struggle
Tomlinson candidly shared the emotional challenges he has faced, revealing, “You know, there’s still a level in my head [where it feels] unjust and frustrating that he’s not with us anymore.”
He added, “It was really, really, impossibly difficult for me to deal with losing Liam. Naively, I thought that because at this point I’m relatively well-versed in grief for my age, that it might soften the blow. It’s very different. I’ve never lost a friend before.”
### Tribute to Liam Payne
Remembering his late friend, Tomlinson called Payne the “safest pair of hands” in One Direction. He said, “We were all just so amateur, but he was already where he needed to be by the time he did his first [X Factor] audition. None of us would have admitted it at the time because you have a lot of pride as a young lad but we all looked up to him like that.”
### Details Surrounding Payne’s Death
Liam Payne reportedly died after falling from the third floor of his Buenos Aires hotel. According to reports, hotel staff had contacted police after noticing a guest who appeared to be under the “influence of drugs and alcohol.”
An autopsy later confirmed that Payne was intoxicated at the time and may have jumped while semi- or fully unconscious.
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Louis Tomlinson’s heartfelt words shed light on the deep impact that Liam Payne’s passing has had on him and underline the enduring bond the members of One Direction shared.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/louis-tomlinson-opens-up-about-liam-payne/story