Liam Payne Faced Rejection Before He Was Named One Direction’s ‘Leader’

Liam Payne was initially rejected from the British talent competition series X-Factor before a behind-the-scenes clip named him One Direction ‘s “leader.” The 31-year-old singer, who was found dead in Argentina on Oct. 16, 2024, always wanted to be in show business. But advice from this legendary entertainment powerhouse delayed Payne’s dream before setting him on a path to success.

Liam Payne rejected from first ‘X-Factor’ audition before being named a ‘leader’

In 2008, 14-year-old Liam Payne auditioned for the British talent series X-Factor . However, he was deemed too young by judge Simon Cowell to continue in the competition.

“I should really be concentrating on my [school] work but I just think about singing too much,” he said before his first audition per the BBC. “It’s a dream and I’d love to do it.”

He made it through his initial audition but was cut by Cowell during the show’s Barbados episode. The legendary entertainment powerhouse delayed Payne’s dream, telling him to finish school and return to audition again in two years.

He returned in 2010 to sing “Cry Me A River” and made it through to the cast a second time. But he faced stiff competition from other young men, who were equally talented in the cast that season.

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan also wanted to win the series. Separately they couldn’t win, but together, they had something, said Judge Nicole Scherzinger. In a behind-the-scenes clip , she works alongside Cowell and judge Louis Walsh, pulling headshots together, creating One Direction and saying, “The little girls are going to love them,” before calling Payne the group’s “leader.”

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After wowing the audience and judges with their group performances, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan were eliminated from the series. They placed third for the season.

But that wasn’t the end of the group. Simon Cowell signed them to his label and, nine months after the X-Factor finale, “What Makes You Beautiful” was released, and headed to the top of the Billboard charts.

One Direction released five albums in total. The group’s first was Up All Night in 2011, followed by one album a year: Take Me Home, Midnight Memories, Four, and Made in the A.M.

The group had six songs listed on Billboard’s Top 10. “Best Song Ever,” “Drag Me Down,” “Live While We’re Young,” “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life,” and “Perfect” hit the top of the charts.

Malik left the band in 2015. One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Each member of the band subsequently had successful solo careers. Payne’s Billboard debut “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo hit the top spot for two weeks in October 2017. He would later release “Get Low,” with Zedd (2017), “Bedroom Floor” ( 2017), “For You (2018, from the film Fifty Shades Freed ), and “Familiar,” with J Balvin (2018).

How did Liam Payne die?

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Liam Payne of One Direction died on Oct. 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the Associated Press, Payne fell to his death from a third-floor hotel balcony.

Pablo Policicchio, communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, told AP that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” His death came after police were called to the hotel to assist with a man who was “aggressive” and was potentially under the influence. In recent years, Payne went to rehab to deal with depression and addiction issues.

An investigation into Payne’s death is ongoing. Fans have created a makeshift flower memorial outside of the hotel where the singer died. He is the father of one son from a relationship with Cheryl Cole.