CEBU, Philippines - Now that the members of One Direction are going their separate ways for a little while, we’re probably going to start seeing them in separate spaces. Liam Payne is kicking that idea into gear with his first solo magazine interview and cover with U.K. gay publication Attitude.
The 1D star opens up about everything from the band’s future to his heavy drinking and partying ways, holding nothing back from his fans. He even reveals that his relationship with alcohol not only caused him to gain weight but also became dangerous enough to spark an intervention.
“I started drinking a lot and I began to get a bit tubbier,” he explains. “In fact, because of that I was getting fat jibes all the time, which hurt me...I’m not afraid to say I went through a pretty bad stage. And for that time in my life, that was perfect for me. That’s what I wanted to do and so I enjoyed myself.”
But Liam took it too far. He recalls a fan event in which he showed up “a little bit drunk.”
“There were just a few times that I went over the limit with things and then I had to pull it back,” he confesses. “I was very fortunate that I had lots of great people around me who said to me, ‘Look Liam, you need to chill out a bit now.’”
The “Drag Me Down” singer says he no longer drinks.
“I’m not here to be a role model,” Liam says. “It’s a difficult thing to place pressure on you when you’re so young. I’m going to mess up from time to time. Everyone does. I’m only human, and sometimes I let my guard down a little too much.”
Liam credits girlfriend Sophia Smith with helping him stay grounded, and says she was the reason why he did the Attitude shoot in the first place. Even though fans want to see One Direction stick together, he explains that this is the moment for them to try their own things. “I realize now this is the time to start branching out and exploring,” he says, adding this is the “first time I have done something on my own.”
“I was so happy to get the award, but at the same time it’s a super scary thing because [doing the interview alone is] such a huge statement to make,” he added.
To any Directioners who are worried that their hiatus might be more permanent need not worry. Liam vowed they “will work together again.”
Liam does, however, want one thing to go away when they make their grand return: the “Larry Stylinson” phenomenon, AKA fan fiction written about a romantic relationship between Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.
“When the [gay marriage] law changed in the U.S. there were loads of rainbow flags flying at our shows, but I think that was mainly because people think of the Louis and Harry thing, which is absolutely nuts and drives me insane,” Liam says. “It’s like when you know the ins and outs of what’s going on with people, it’s just annoying when it’s so stupid. It becomes like a conspiracy or a cult.”
He also addresses the rumors that Tomlinson isn’t actually expecting a a baby with Briana Jungwirth. “He’s very happy about becoming a dad. But the funny thing is, there are some people out there who think that Louis getting Briana pregnant is fake,” he explains. “That it’s not real; it’s a cover up. But you have to hold your tongue and that’s fine.”