News | Entertainment
21 Feb 2026 18:44
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Liam Payne feels "lucky" to be alive, after admitting he battled suicidal thoughts whilst in One Direction

    The 25-year-old singer has been paving his way as a solo artist since the boy band went on hiatus in late 2015, and has now admitted he's thankful for the break, as the hectic schedule of the group "nearly killed" him.


    Speaking on his upcoming documentary, 'Ant Middleton and Liam Payne: Straight Talking', which he appears in alongside former soldier Ant Middleton, he said: "For some certain circumstances I'm quite lucky to be here still.

    "There are times when that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day, it's like, 'When will this end?' That's almost nearly killed me a couple of times."

    And when asked by Ant if he'd ever wanted to act on his thoughts, Liam added: "Yeah, when I've been in a bad place. It's one hundred per cent, you know. There's no point denying it - it's definitely been on the menu a couple of times in my life."

    The 'Bedroom Floor' hitmaker - who has two-year-old son Bear with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl Tweedy - credits his friends with helping him pull through the difficult period.

    He explained: "There's only one thing you control within that situation and that is you. Just do today. Get on with that bit and then there'll be another hurdle in a few months, a few weeks or maybe even the next day."

    Meanwhile, Liam recently admitted he sought therapy following the 'History' hitmakers' hiatus, because he "went of the rails" and began drinking too much.

    He said: "I went into therapy a couple years after leaving. I kind of went off the rails a little bit and just couldn't really figure out what was making me sad. So, you know, my team got somebody around to help me through a couple of different, difficult things that I was going through.

    "I was just trying to figure myself out. It was just such a strange course through life, and then when the switch turns off you're left to your own devices."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     21 Feb: Katie Price has suggested she is expecting a child with her new husband Lee Andrews
     21 Feb: Sharon Stone has unleashed a fiery takedown of society's ongoing discomfort with nudity, blasting the idea that women should hide their bodies - or be ashamed of the most basic parts of being human
     21 Feb: Drawings by the late Queen Elizabeth are expected to sell for thousands at auction
     21 Feb: David Archuleta made himself homeless at the height of his fame
     21 Feb: Hart to Hart stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers recently reunited for the former's 96th birthday
     21 Feb: Prince William has opened up about the personal work he does to understand his own emotions, saying he often needs time to process how he feels
     21 Feb: Emma Heming Willis says caring for her husband Bruce Willis has made her realise how "vital" it is to concentrate on her own health
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Tiaan Whelpton's made a resounding statement at the International Track Meet in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Two dogs have been impounded by Christchurch Council Animal Management officers and three people are in hospital after an attack in the North West More...



     Today's News

    Cricket:
    28 years after their inception, the Northern Districts women's cricket team have won their first national title in any format 18:37

    Rugby League:
    One of the best players in the game is likely to miss the start of the NRL season 18:27

    Entertainment:
    Katie Price has suggested she is expecting a child with her new husband Lee Andrews 18:17

    Politics:
    How a window opened for IS-linked Australians to leave Syria 18:17

    Business:
    Two dogs have been impounded by Christchurch Council Animal Management officers and three people are in hospital after an attack in the North West 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Sharon Stone has unleashed a fiery takedown of society's ongoing discomfort with nudity, blasting the idea that women should hide their bodies - or be ashamed of the most basic parts of being human 17:47

    Cricket:
    To the women's one day cricket final at the Basin Reserve 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Drawings by the late Queen Elizabeth are expected to sell for thousands at auction 17:17

    Education:
    Students in Auckland's Northcote College will be learning remotely next week, due to a fire-damaged building needing to be cleared 16:57

    Entertainment:
    David Archuleta made himself homeless at the height of his fame 16:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd