Ex-One Direction Member Who Followed Liam Payne on Instagram Before His Death: Viral TikTok Video Highlights 1D Connection

On October 16, 2024, the world mourned the untimely passing of Liam Payne, who died at the age of 31. The former One Direction star was enjoying a vacation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with his partner, Kate Cassidy, when he tragically fell from the balcony of their third-floor hotel room.

In the aftermath of Payne’s death, his One Direction comrades—Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik—took to Instagram to express their profound sorrow and share touching tributes honoring Liam’s memory.

However, a recent TikTok post has sparked intrigue among fans, revealing that aside from Louis Tomlinson, none of the other band members followed Liam on Instagram, despite him following all of them. This viral TikTok video has led to discussions about the true nature of their relationships.

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Zayn Malik and Harry Styles Previously Unfollowed Everyone, Including Liam Payne

In a TikTok video uploaded three days ago by user @starg111rll, she appeared visibly upset while 1D’s “Moments”played softly in the background. The message expressed in the clip read:

“Harry unfollowed everyone, Zayn did too. Louis was the only one following Liam. Not even Niall, who Liam was in Argentina to see originally. Niall followed everyone except Liam.”

This startling observation caught many TikTok users off guard, propelling the video into viral status within days. It’s historically noted that at one point, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles opted to follow no one on the platform. Nevertheless, both now follow a select few, and notably, none of their former bandmates.

Niall Horan, despite following Malik, Styles, and Tomlinson, does not return Liam Payne’s follow, which has puzzled many fans given that Payne was in Argentina to attend Horan’s concert, where he was spotted on October 2.

Among the One Direction members, only Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne were connected through mutual follows, which raises questions about the closeness of the remaining members post-split. Despite this, Liam had a different perspective.

In a YouTube video shared on July 3, 2023, Liam expressed gratitude towards his bandmates, mentioning:

“The rest of the boys really stuck by me when I needed them most; they kinda came to the rescue. Even Zayn, as well, which is why I did send him a little thank you online.”

Joint Statement from Former 1D Members Following Liam Payne’s Death

In addition to individual tributes, the members of One Direction collectively shared a statement on the band’s Instagram account after Liam’s passing, stating:

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”

The statement further articulated:

“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

All four members—Louis, Zayn, Niall, and Harry—signed the tribute.

The five members first met as competitors on The X Factor in 2010, leading to their formation as a band. Active from 2011 to 2015, One Direction is hailed as the best-selling boy band of all time. The group disbanded in 2016 after Zayn Malik departed to pursue a solo career, prompting the others to follow suit.

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