Liam Payne Recalls Secret Feud With Fellow One Direction Star Louis Tomlinson

Daniel Welsh

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has admitted there was a bit of a power struggle between himself and Louis Tomlinson in the early days of the group.

In fact, in a new interview with Hits Radio Breakfast, Liam admitted he “absolutely hated” his former bandmate when the boyband first got together, not that fans were any the wiser, because they “hid it” so well.

Liam Payne (Photo: Cindy Ord via Getty Images)
Liam Payne (Photo: Cindy Ord via Getty Images)

“When we were in the band it kind of felt like, because he was the oldest and because I’d been singing for quite a bit of time we both got put in a weird position,” Liam explained.

“[Louis] was wanting to be the leader, and I was doing my thing and wanted to. So, at first we didn’t get on at all. We absolutely hated each other, it was so funny. Really bad. We hid it well.”

Louis Tomlinson (Photo: Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Louis Tomlinson (Photo: Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

He also said his experience in One Direction could border on “toxic” at times, due to the “level of fame that we had in the band”.

This isn’t the first time Liam has lifted the lid on life in One Direction being far from perfect, though.

One Direction in 2011 (Photo: Claire Greenway via Getty Images)
One Direction in 2011 (Photo: Claire Greenway via Getty Images)

In 2017, Liam revealed how being in a successful pop group had taken a toll on his mental health, saying: “I shouldn’t have been able to do as many shows as we did, if I’m honest about it, if I’m brutally honest about it.

“Going out and putting that happy smile on my face and singing the songs, honestly, sometimes it was like putting on one of those costumes, going out there and, underneath the costume, people don’t really see what’s going on.”

Listen to Hits Radio Breakfast with Fleur East, Greg and James every weekday from 6am.

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Zayn Malik Joins The Group

It might be surprising to recall that Zayn's inclusion in One Direction wasn't actually all that well-received, given that he'd refused to dance at boot camp, walking out rather than finishing his choreographed routine. Even Mary Byrne gave it a jaunty shimmy, Zayn!
It might be surprising to recall that Zayn's inclusion in One Direction wasn't actually all that well-received, given that he'd refused to dance at boot camp, walking out rather than finishing his choreographed routine. Even Mary Byrne gave it a jaunty shimmy, Zayn!

1D's Feud With The Wanted

One Direction and short-lived rivals The Wanted had a long-standing feud, which peaked when Zayn called their lead singer, Max George, "chlamydia boy" during a heated Twitter row. Eventually Jay McGuinness stepped in, urging Louis Tomlinson and Zayn to "stop mentioning us in your gigs", adding: "We certainly no longer mention you and it's time to let dead dogs lie."
One Direction and short-lived rivals The Wanted had a long-standing feud, which peaked when Zayn called their lead singer, Max George, "chlamydia boy" during a heated Twitter row. Eventually Jay McGuinness stepped in, urging Louis Tomlinson and Zayn to "stop mentioning us in your gigs", adding: "We certainly no longer mention you and it's time to let dead dogs lie."

Liam Payne Channels Batman, But Fans Aren't Happy

Liam was forced to apologise to fans over this photo, which showed him standing on a window ledge, overlooking East London. He tweeted: "You may have seen a photo of me today taken on top of a building. I regret being there and having the photo taken. "It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am sorry..."
Liam was forced to apologise to fans over this photo, which showed him standing on a window ledge, overlooking East London. He tweeted: "You may have seen a photo of me today taken on top of a building. I regret being there and having the photo taken. "It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am sorry..."

THAT Infamous 'Joint' Video

Zayn and Louis landed themselves in hot water last year, when a video surfaced online, showing the twosome smoking a dodgy-looking cigarette, while Louis said to the camera: "So here we are, leaving Peru. Joint lit. Happy days!" Louis can also be heard joking that “Mary J” - a slang term for marijuana - is “one very very important factor of Zayn’s warm up”.
Zayn and Louis landed themselves in hot water last year, when a video surfaced online, showing the twosome smoking a dodgy-looking cigarette, while Louis said to the camera: "So here we are, leaving Peru. Joint lit. Happy days!" Louis can also be heard joking that “Mary J” - a slang term for marijuana - is “one very very important factor of Zayn’s warm up”.

Harry Faces Racism Accusations

Harry Styles' Twitter followers weren't impressed with this photo, showing him sporting a traditional Native American headdress, with many accusing him of cultural appropriation. He later deleted the picture from his social media accounts.
Harry Styles' Twitter followers weren't impressed with this photo, showing him sporting a traditional Native American headdress, with many accusing him of cultural appropriation. He later deleted the picture from his social media accounts.

Miley Cyrus Hints At VMAs Fix

Miley might have provided one of the most outrageous moments in VMAs history back in 2013, but it's often overlooked that she actually left the ceremony early. Hinting on Twitter that something may be afoot, she wrote: "Leaving the VMAs. No it's not over. I'm no psychic but congrats @onedirection #songofthesummer" Call her Mystic Meg, because 1D only went and won, didn't they? We're sure it was just a coincidence...
Miley might have provided one of the most outrageous moments in VMAs history back in 2013, but it's often overlooked that she actually left the ceremony early. Hinting on Twitter that something may be afoot, she wrote: "Leaving the VMAs. No it's not over. I'm no psychic but congrats @onedirection #songofthesummer" Call her Mystic Meg, because 1D only went and won, didn't they? We're sure it was just a coincidence...

Louis Hits Out At Gay Rumours, Despite That Not Actually Being The Suggestion

A journalist for The Independent noticed that Louis was sporting a t-shirt with the Apple logo on, but emblazoned in rainbow colours, she speculated it might be a mark of solidarity with the company's CEO, who had recently come out. Louis, unfortunately, totally misread the situation, and took it as accusations that he himself was gay, tweeting the journalist directly and writing: "I am in fact straight... Fucking ridiculous I even have to tweet that shit!" You know what, Louis? You didn't have to.
A journalist for The Independent noticed that Louis was sporting a t-shirt with the Apple logo on, but emblazoned in rainbow colours, she speculated it might be a mark of solidarity with the company's CEO, who had recently come out. Louis, unfortunately, totally misread the situation, and took it as accusations that he himself was gay, tweeting the journalist directly and writing: "I am in fact straight... Fucking ridiculous I even have to tweet that shit!" You know what, Louis? You didn't have to.

#FreePalestine

Zayn Malik found himself on the receiving end of death threats, after tweeting the message #FreePalestine out of the blue to his 13 million followers. Keep in mind this was before Zayn's Twitter page became a haven for, well, every thought that enters his head, as it currently is.
Zayn Malik found himself on the receiving end of death threats, after tweeting the message #FreePalestine out of the blue to his 13 million followers. Keep in mind this was before Zayn's Twitter page became a haven for, well, every thought that enters his head, as it currently is.

Harry's Alleged Dalliance With A Married Radio DJ

Shortly after his fling with Caroline Flack, it was reported that he'd slept with another woman over a decade older him, this time radio DJ Lucy Horobin, who was married at the time. However, an insider later told the Sunday Mirror that Harry "had no idea she was still married".
Shortly after his fling with Caroline Flack, it was reported that he'd slept with another woman over a decade older him, this time radio DJ Lucy Horobin, who was married at the time. However, an insider later told the Sunday Mirror that Harry "had no idea she was still married".

Louis And Zayn's Epic Twitter Fall-Out

They might have been BFFs when they were still in One Direction, but once Zayn was gone from the group, he and Louis fell out spectacularly on Twitter, over music producer Naughty Boy. Zayn publicly told Louis to "stop bitching", writing to him publicly: "Remember when you had a life and stopped making bitchy comments about mine?" The two were later reported to have made up, but when Zayn fell out with Calvin Harris, Louis was there to make it clear he was on the DJ's side...
They might have been BFFs when they were still in One Direction, but once Zayn was gone from the group, he and Louis fell out spectacularly on Twitter, over music producer Naughty Boy. Zayn publicly told Louis to "stop bitching", writing to him publicly: "Remember when you had a life and stopped making bitchy comments about mine?" The two were later reported to have made up, but when Zayn fell out with Calvin Harris, Louis was there to make it clear he was on the DJ's side...

Niall Horan Calls Fans A Shower Of... Well...

Niall was at the centre of a controversy, after a video showed him greeting fans at Dublin airport with the unusual salutation of: "You shower of c**ts." Although that sounds bad on paper, Niall did wish the same fans a 'happy birthday' in the video, and later insisted his comments were "just banter", tweeting: "Really sorry if I caused any offence. It was just banter with fans who I think of more as mates. But I understand that it's not a word I should be using at all."
Niall was at the centre of a controversy, after a video showed him greeting fans at Dublin airport with the unusual salutation of: "You shower of c**ts." Although that sounds bad on paper, Niall did wish the same fans a 'happy birthday' in the video, and later insisted his comments were "just banter", tweeting: "Really sorry if I caused any offence. It was just banter with fans who I think of more as mates. But I understand that it's not a word I should be using at all."

Hayley Williams Accuses The Group Of Plagiarism

The intros to 'What Makes You Beautiful', 'Live While We're Young' and 'Best Song Ever' all struck a chord with music fans, for their similarities to other songs. However, Hayley Williams took it a step further when she heard 'Steal My Girl' for the first time, tweeting: "[The] beginning of that new 1D song couldn't sound any more like the beginning of @newfoundglory's "its not your fault" but..."
The intros to 'What Makes You Beautiful', 'Live While We're Young' and 'Best Song Ever' all struck a chord with music fans, for their similarities to other songs. However, Hayley Williams took it a step further when she heard 'Steal My Girl' for the first time, tweeting: "[The] beginning of that new 1D song couldn't sound any more like the beginning of @newfoundglory's "its not your fault" but..."

Louis Tomlinson's Friend Sparks Backlash

This behind-the-scenes snap from the 'Steal My Girl' video upset animal rights' activists, who were angered that the group had a chained monkey on the set of their music video. Although a 1D spokesperson was adamant that no animals were harmed, UK-based charity Wild Futures called for the video to be pulled altogether.
This behind-the-scenes snap from the 'Steal My Girl' video upset animal rights' activists, who were angered that the group had a chained monkey on the set of their music video. Although a 1D spokesperson was adamant that no animals were harmed, UK-based charity Wild Futures called for the video to be pulled altogether.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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