_updates.jpg)
In an emotional moment, Liam Payne's cousin has spoken about the One Direction alum's death and his struggles in his first TV interview, nearly two years after the passing of the singer.
Liam passed away at the age of 31 in October 2024 after a fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
On Thursday, August 27, Ross Harris opened up about his memories of Liam and about his tragic death during his appearance on Good Morning Britain.
Liam Payne was not what was portrayed in the media
"He absolutely loved the fans and meeting them, he was so grateful for the position he had been put in," he noted.
Ross added, "He was so charismatic and very kind, which is part of the reason I'm here today, to tell people about the kindness, and the guy he was, compared to the guy that's being portrayed in the media."
Ross continued by sharing childhood memories of Liam when they were younger, commenting on the “different worlds” Liam had before and after he found fame.
Liam Payne's struggles with fame
He went on to talk about concerns he had before Liam’s death, saying, "For him, fame is a very difficult thing for a lot of people to deal with, it looks like it's glitz and glamour from the outside, and there's amazing opportunities, amazing life you can have, but on the other side, there's a certain isolation and loneliness."
"It's very hard to know who is in your corner, who is rooting for you, who's there for the money. And there was a time that I thought, bless this guy, he's got everything and nothing at the same time, he's lonely and isolated and maybe doesn't know what people think of him."
In a pre-recorded interview, Ross told GMB that he feared Liam had not felt loved.
He said, "He didn't feel very loved, which is ironic for a superstar, because he has a million people plus who love him. They loved Liam Payne, he needs someone to love Liam, if that makes sense."
"It's like a dream to go on a TV show and become a superstar, but that dream can end in the worst possible way, which we have unfortunately experienced here."
About Liam Payne's tragic death
Liam Payne passed away in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An investigation into his death is still ongoing, with an initial coroner's report saying he died of multiple traumas and "internal and external haemorrhage" after the fall from a third-floor balcony.
