Liam Payne has made headlines by claiming he was the foundational member of One Direction, asserting that Simon Cowell once promised to make him a star.
“Ah, the tangled webs we weave!” reflects the complexity of Liam Payne’s recent comments regarding One Direction. During his appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast, he made the audacious claim that the entire band was centered around him, suggesting that Simon Cowell had a grand design for boy band success with Payne as the focal point.
Liam Payne | Credits: vagueonthehow via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Adding to the drama, another video surfaced showing Cowell complimenting Payne’s audition while playfully hinting that he had a bit of an inflated ego. Just when it seemed the story couldn’t get more intricate, Maya Henry, Payne’s former girlfriend, entered the narrative, sharing insights that entangle Payne and Cowell’s accounts in a complicated web.
Liam Payne‘s Self-Declared Role in One Direction
As the bard might say, “All the world’s a stage,” and it appears Liam Payne is convinced he’s the star of this particular tale! Two years ago, on Logan Paul’s podcast, the ex-One Direction heartthrob suggested that Simon Cowell engineered the group primarily for him.
Payne boldly stated:
“From what I’ve heard, part of the reason One Direction was made was because of Simon’s promise to me. That in two years I’ll make this work for you. So he kind of started with my face and worked out around the rest.”
Liam Payne during a One Direction concert in 2015 | Credits: Ashley Newby via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
This is quite the assertion considering the collective effort of the other members! Logan Paul reacted, exclaiming, “Wow, you were the inception?” To which Payne responded proudly, “I was the honorary member of One Direction, yes.”
He recounted a memorable dinner at Cowell’s house where Cowell supposedly expressed his regrets about sending Payne home, saying:
“I didn’t want to let you go, but you have to go and get your education.”
As the narrative unfolded, it became apparent that Payne didn’t have a smooth path into One Direction. Upon his return for a second audition, he humorously referred to himself as “everyone’s nemesis” during boot camp, sharing his frustration with Simon about not outperforming the contestant who advanced.
After experiencing further uncertainty, a member of the X Factor team urgently called him back, leading to the history we all know. He admitted, “I don’t know how they chose the rest of them,” demonstrating a touch of humor about the especially competitive process!
Did Liam Payne Really Fabricate the Origins of One Direction?
Maya Henry | Credit: TikTok @mayahenry
In a recent release, ITV unveiled unseen footage from 2010 that captured the pivotal moments where Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, and Louis Walsh were deliberating the lineup for what would become the legendary One Direction (via TMZ). This footage reveals Cowell acknowledging Liam Payne’s strong audition but also suggesting that he had an ego, stating:
“He thinks he’s better than anyone else in that list.”
During the podcast, Payne confidently declared, “Simon started with my face, and then worked around the rest. I was the honorary member of One Direction. He told me that story himself at his house.” This remark raises the question of whether Cowell was genuinely agreeing or if he was suppressing laughter. While Payne views himself as the linchpin of the group, it seems Cowell had a nuanced perspective.
Just when you think the story couldn’t escalate further, Maya Henry decided to share her own take. Recently, she went on TikTok, where she reposted a cleverly edited video combining interviews from both Payne and Cowell, indicating that Liam might be telling a tall tale about his involvement in One Direction’s origins. Furthermore, Henry has also released additional content on TikTok (via YouTube) detailing her tumultuous relationship with Payne, making claims that could significantly impact his public image.
