News | Entertainment
23 Feb 2026 22:25
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
     23 Feb: Conner Smith will not face charges is relation to a fatal car accident
     23 Feb: Lando Norris has confirmed he has split from Portuguese model and actress Margarida Corceiro
     23 Feb: Sir Paul McCartney has opened up about the deeply personal experience of seeing his "beautiful" late wife Linda McCartney on screen again in his new Prime Video documentary Man On The Run
     23 Feb: Lil Jon's son has been laid to rest
     23 Feb: Eric Dane has died aged 53
     23 Feb: Ashton Kutcher and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson have led tributes to the late Eric Dane
     23 Feb: Brooke Candy has confirmed she has divorced Kyle England
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Early positive signs for young Highlanders' loose forward Lucas Casey More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    People appear to have regained confidence it's okay to shop More...



     Today's News

    Athletics:
    Sam Ruthe has completed the set 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Conner Smith will not face charges is relation to a fatal car accident 21:51

    Accident and Emergency:
    One person has died following a hit-and-run in Southland's Te Anau today 21:27

    Entertainment:
    Lando Norris has confirmed he has split from Portuguese model and actress Margarida Corceiro 21:21

    Motoring:
    Killing of 'El Mencho', Mexico's biggest drug lord, sparks chaos among cartel members 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Sir Paul McCartney has opened up about the deeply personal experience of seeing his "beautiful" late wife Linda McCartney on screen again in his new Prime Video documentary Man On The Run 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Lil Jon's son has been laid to rest 20:21

    Entertainment:
    Eric Dane has died aged 53 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Ashton Kutcher and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson have led tributes to the late Eric Dane 19:21

    Politics:
    ACT says more change is needed - after controversy over a Defence Force cultural policy 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd