Also read: ‘Very sad’ Liam Payne ‘begged’ girlfriend Kate Cassidy to stay in Argentina days before his death

Liam Payne’s ‘significant’ drug addiction

A source close to the industry told the outlet, ‘Liam was struggling with a very serious drug addiction and his treatment, as people who know him will attest, was not working.’ He added, “They were really pushing him to get back on the road and get back on tour and he had just come out of rehab. How many times have we seen this story, where people are only concerned about making money?” However, the outlet was told that music label executives were not very “comfortable” working with the Get Low singer.

Another industry source told the media outlet, “The issue is that there is not just one person responsible for everything, as tempting as it is to blame anyone. There are many people involved in working with an artist.” In 2023, Payne spent 100 days in a rehabilitation facility in Louisiana. It is believed that he broke with the management just weeks before his death.

Also read: Tom Holland explains why he quit drinking: ‘Struggles without alcohol…’

Simon Cowell pays tribute to Liam Payne

Following tributes from Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, X Factor judge Simon Cowell also posted a heartfelt message for Payne. “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” she wrote on Instagram. Liam, I’m devastated. Heart broken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I shed is a memory of you. Cowell, who formed One Direction in 2010, said he felt “empty” after Payne’s death.