Liam Payne’s anniversary is not an excuse to demand a One Direction reunion

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Nobody who was close to Liam owes us any public displays of misery (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Today marks a year since the tragic and untimely death of Liam Payne and as tributes roll in from fans and loved ones, all eyes are on his former One Direction bandmates.

Questions of who posted first, whether they will write a joint statement, who didn’t pen an emotionally devastating Instagram message, will all be scrutinised and shared across the internet on this painful anniversary, just as they were a year ago.

For Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik, this is the start of a ritual they will be forced to spend the rest of their lives performing as they get asked time and time again about their dead friend.

That might be a brutal way to put it, but it’s the truth. Ever since that shocking news broke, it seems that all anyone has wanted to do is bring up Liam and the prospect of a potential tribute.

But the simple fact is, nobody who was close to Liam owes us any public displays of misery.

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It is disturbing that so many people expect Zayn, Harry, Louis, and Niall to parade out their grief each year for our entertainment.

And it’s downright selfish for some fans to assume that they are owed those four getting the band back together in tribute. 

From the analysing interviews, to fans thinking they could hear Zayn on Louis’ new song, a One Direction reunion in some form has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

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Zayn, Harry, Louis, and Niall don’t owe anyone anything (Picture: Fred Duval/FilmMagic)

Earlier this year, it was incredibly telling how much of the conversation about Liam’s passing being marked at the 2025 Brits in March was about a potential performance. 

It seems fans who were pining for the return of One Direction now see an opportunity to demand the four stars who have barely been seen together in the last decade reconcile in honour of Liam.

As if the remaining band members must sing Night Changes together in a massive televised concert just to put on a public show of how sad they are so we can see if it’s up to the standards we hold in our minds.

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There is no right or wrong way to grieve (Picture: Carla Speight/Getty Images for Bauer Media)

Imagine you lost your childhood friend, who you had drifted from in the past decade, and watched them spiral from afar. Now imagine everyone you speak to asks you to comment on that death and your grief.

Even today, probably one of the hardest days they will have to face, the group will feel pressure to put on a brave face and share a statement or risk being blasted as ‘not sad enough’ by overly parasocial fans.

Because no matter what form a tribute from the band members takes today, whether joint or individual, celebratory or reflective, for some fans it will never be as special as the concept of a full reunion, not least because Liam was said to be its biggest proponent. 

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It is clear that the band can’t win, as the vilification of Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy has proved. She’s branded inappropriate, a fake, or a clout-chaser for doing the exact thing many want One Direction to do: documenting her grief publicly. 

Maybe those trying to police the band’s grief or asking for a reunion simply can’t understand how it feels to lose a friend at an early age, particularly one from such intense circumstances.

While losing family members is heartbreaking, we’re far more equipped when it comes to saying goodbye to the elderly than our friends, who we imagine will be by our sides as we grow old.

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(L-R) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The band were just teenagers when they met, going through an incredibly formative time together, under the full glare of the media microscope, with every memory of One Direction being intrinsically tied to Liam forever.

It’s up to Louis, Zayn, Niall, and Harry when — if ever — they’re ready to revisit that pain in such an overt way together. 

For now, no comeback tour appears to be on the horizon. 

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While Louis may be okay to discuss Liam on a podcast, he has said he’s not sure [a reunion] ‘would be right to Liam’, as the loss ‘just completely put a pin in all of that’.

Niall, who informed Louis of Liam’s death, hasn’t publicly said anything about the loss since immediately afterward, Zayn dedicated Night Changes to him while on tour, and Harry seems to be throwing himself into life away from the studio.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but the message is clear: they’re not ready to let us poke and prod at this wound yet. It’s still healing. And we have to respect that. 

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One Direction need to be given the space to mourn their friend (Picture: Andrew Chin/Getty Images)

Events in the celebrity world move so fast, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a year, but that is a drop in the ocean when coming to terms with the death of someone you’ve known for over half your life.

Losing a loved one is always horrific but losing someone suddenly, far too soon, and in a way that makes you feel utterly helpless is a uniquely devastating position to be in.

One Direction don’t owe public, performative grief; they don’t owe us anything.

Instead, we owe them grace and the space, away from tasteless reunion speculation, to mourn their friend, Liam.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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