News | Entertainment
23 Feb 2026 3:06
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
     22 Feb: James Van Der Beek was a "great leader on set", according to Algee Smith
     22 Feb: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been "released under investigation"
     22 Feb: Khloe Kardashian would "want to be married" before having any more kids
     22 Feb: Timothee Chalamet thinks AI is set to change the movie business
     22 Feb: Hailey Bieber has found fame to be "mentally exhausting"
     22 Feb: Andrew Windsor has been slammed as "never a prince" by Virginia Giuffre's family
     22 Feb: Paddington Bear is set to bring a marmalade-tinted flourish to this weekend's EE BAFTA Film Awards after being confirmed as a presenter at the ceremony
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Crusaders have been demolished by the Brumbies 50-24 in Christchurch to close out the second week of Super Rugby More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Fifteen years on from the devastating Christchurch earthquake, belief light may finally be at the end of the tunnel More...



     Today's News

    Auckland:
    Citybound lanes on Auckland's North-Western motorway have now reopened following a two-vehicle crash 22:07

    Entertainment:
    James Van Der Beek was a "great leader on set", according to Algee Smith 21:47

    Motoring:
    There are serious injuries after a crash between a car and cyclist in Christchurch's Sumner 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been "released under investigation" 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Khloe Kardashian would "want to be married" before having any more kids 20:47

    Entertainment:
    Timothee Chalamet thinks AI is set to change the movie business 20:17

    Entertainment:
    Hailey Bieber has found fame to be "mentally exhausting" 19:47

    International:
    Why has Donald Trump issued Keir Starmer a warning about the Chagos Islands? 19:37

    Entertainment:
    Andrew Windsor has been slammed as "never a prince" by Virginia Giuffre's family 19:17

    Law and Order:
    Police are asking for public help to find John Joseph Paparoa, who is wanted in relation to dishonesty, assault and firearm-related offending 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd