Concordia’s Directioners reminisce about One Direction following the death of one of its band members.
The untimely death of musician Liam Payne sent shockwaves around the world after he fell from the third-story balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 16. He was best known as one of the members of the British boyband One Direction (1D), which saw massive international success during the 2010’s before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
The sudden breaking news shocked many, marking the end of an era for an entire generation of fans who devoted a large part of their childhood to the band.
“I opened X and saw it and instantly thought it was fake. I was in shock,” said third-year psychology student Samantha Vizzi. “I only really felt it the next day when it was the first thing I thought about when I woke up. My whole life and all of my interests were wrapped up in One Direction ever since I was really young.”
The news generated a wide outpour of outreach and support towards supporters of the band, mostly from their friends and family.
“I found out about the news because all my friends texted me and called me. I honestly think fewer people would’ve FaceTimed me if a member of my family had died,” said Malou Le Besq, a fourth-year political science major.
The 1D fandom was hugely prominent online during the band’s heyday, fostering a global sense of community through numerous fan pages. Fans took this unexpected event as an opportunity to come together, reunite, and collectively mourn.
The grieving process, however, was bittersweet and nuanced for many fans, given the numerous accounts and allegations of abuse leveled against him by his ex-girlfriend, Maya Henry. He most recently faced backlash after she published a book about an abusive relationship “inspired by true events.” Payne’s history of abuse led many fans to be critical of him, rather than fully sympathetic.
“I wasn’t proud of the person he was at the moment with everything that happened with his past relationships. I had already drifted away from him as a human being, but I was still attached to what he represented: the band, the music, and how it built me as a person,” said third-year communications student Maria Luisa Velez.
“Mourning an abuser in public is peak insensitivity, even if you were a fan of him during your teenage years. Being sad that a boyband member you loved when you were younger died in private is fine and understandable, but taking it to public spaces is intolerable,” added Le Besq, who emphasized their sympathy towards Henry.
Fans have mostly grappled with Payne’s sudden passing by revisiting One Direction-related media. While certain lyrics have taken upon new meanings, revisiting photos and videos of the band has been a source of closure for many, allowing them to relive the good times.
“I remembered their concert in Singapore,” said Hannah Bendel, third-year communications major. “I dragged my mom because I was too young to go alone, and I spent the entire time standing and screaming at the top of my lungs. Now that [Payne] died, it reminds me why I loved them so much as a young girl.”
Payne’s death not only marked the loss of a singer, but an unexpected end to the One Direction saga, leaving many with a void where their childhood was once contained.
“It doesn’t affect me that much, but my inner child is crying,” said Bendel.
