Liam Payne’s cousin Ross Harris spoke exclusively to Good Morning Britain
“He didn’t feel very loved,” Liam Payne’s cousin Ross Harris told Good Morning Britain in an exclusive interview, “which is ironic for a superstar because he has a million people plus who love him”.
“But they loved Liam Payne. He needed someone to love Liam,” Ross said.
The singer died aged 31 in October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ross had missed a call from Liam earlier that same day.
“I think my phone must have been face down and we were recording, and yeah, just completely missed it,” he said.
“And then I think I probably saw it maybe an hour or two later. I was like, ‘oh, I’ll call him back when we’re done’. And then I tried to call, but I think he was already gone by that point.”
Ross had encouraged his cousin’s love of music at an early age, teaching him songs on the piano – something he now says he would change if he could go back in time.
“Hindsight’s a beautiful, awful thing where if I could go back, I would change absolutely everything,” he said.
Liam Payne officially launched his music career at the age of 16 when he competed in The X Factor and became part of the boyband One Direction.
Ross said he thought he was “too young” to appear on the talent show.
“There is a safeguarding issue, especially with young people, because even though he was in his thirties, he was still basically a kid in this industry because he didn’t have a chance to grow up like a normal person would outside of the fame system,” he said.
“It’s a dream to go on a TV show and become a superstar. But that dream can end in the worst possible way, which is what we have unfortunately experienced here.”
The music industry more widely has “no accountability”, Ross said, adding that Liam was “definitely let down”.
“When someone’s image is used to make money, I believe there has to be an accountability on the party that is making that money on behalf of them,” he said.
“He was definitely let down. Whether it was intentional or unintentional are two very different things.
“There are some wonderful people in the music industry. There are some bad people in the music industry, like any industry.
“I think in entertainment the cost is much higher because someone’s image and their health is on the line in a public facing way where a mistake has a much higher cost.”
Ross has released a song in tribute to his cousin, with the proceeds going to a newly-launched charity that raises money for causes close to the former One Direction singer’s heart.
On Liam’s death, The X Factor has previously said: “We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne.
“He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.”
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