28/08/2025
I remember obsessing over the X Factor when I was younger, and one day seeing a boy jump on stage and bellow Cry Me A River by Arthur Hamilton, and I was blown away. He was 15 and he was Liam Payne. Liam passed away last night. I don’t claim to know a great deal about him, other than, like everyone else, what I read about in papers and tabloids. But I do know that for years he has been bullied, harassed and berated by the media and the public on a large scale. Liam made no secret, also, about his declining mental health. But, as ever in the public eye, he was ‘fair game’ to bully and harass to the public’s content, because he ‘chose this life’ by jumping on stage and singing a song at 15 years old. Because he had a passion. Because he suffered alcoholism and, intoxicated, was used by various media outlets for cheap clicks and listens. The first image is of Maya Henry, Liam’s ex-fiancé, who recently put out a restraining order against Liam. Underneath is a comment written since last night. I don’t know if I have a point here, but a question; when is it going to stop? How many people will the public have rights to target and vilify, bully, harass to our hearts’ content who then tragically lose their lives and then, to absolve ourselves of blame for these tragedies, move onto someone we deem the blame for that loss? The deep investment in hating makes this world a terrifying place. Taking ourselves out of that place is the only way any of those close to Liam will ever heal from their loss, REGARDLESS of what we think we know about their relationship with him. Rest in peace, Liam. X
