#Simon Cowell Interview

[hollywoodoutbreak]

Simon Cowell, the mastermind behind the enduring summer sensation America's Got Talent, has been a staple in the talent show landscape for years. With 19 seasons under its belt, and Cowell himself judging for eight of them, AGT has provided a platform for countless aspiring performers hoping to achieve their dreams. While Cowell has honed his reputation as a discerning and sometimes acerbic judge on shows like American Idol, The X Factor, and Britain's Got Talent, it seems AGT brings out a different side of him.

On AGT, audiences witness a more nuanced Cowell, one who balances his trademark candor with genuine empathy for the diverse acts that grace the stage. Over the years, Cowell has expressed his fondness for the show's inherent optimism, finding inspiration in the contestants' resilience and determination to overcome challenges.

America's Got Talent airs Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8/7c on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.

[sunshineandlyrics]

THIS reply!

[sweatyfestivaltrash]

This is probably not true but it is funny

[statementlou]

hello :) could you maybe explain a little bit how dan wootton blackmailed louis?

ugh sorry for taking a while to get to this. The problem is I feel like the only two ways to answer this are by spending a week and a half of full time labor sifting through old posts and evidence to get every detail right and lay out an airtight case, or to halfass something very serious, and so I felt a little stuck. So since I can't seem to find a good halfway point, apologies but here is the half assed version, if you want to get into it more I invite you to do your own deep dive or talk to other people, but here's how I remember things. Louis has almost never on video explicitly said things about Larry not being real and/or anything negative about fans and their theories (mostly the opposite), up until the last couple years when he obviously decided to make a major change he didn't talk about Freddie much at all let alone saying he was his kid, honestly not that much about Eleanor even; except for in two major interviews with Dan Wootton, each of which lined up with a serious traumatic Tomlinson family event that they managed to keep out of the tabloids until the very end (Jay's illness and Fizzy's struggles with substance abuse). After the fact of those events a lot of small things that didn't make sense at the time came together to look very much like Louis traded those interviews (and those answers) for having his family's private matters kept private. Story trading of this kind is a publicly known real thing that happens, and there were various clues that suggested he was being leaned on about those stories to lend legitimacy to the idea that it was something that happened in these cases. Given what we know about Dan Wootton and how he operates even before the recent flood of information and even more now, I think it's more than likely that he has been holding the threat of outing Louis (as he has done to many other public figures) over his head for over a decade, and has used his family's tragic struggles to get Louis to dance like a fucking puppet for him and I will REJOICE at his downfall when it comes whether it is now or 20 years from now... because someday it will, he has made too many enemies to stay above it forever

[savebylou]

For new fans this video help me a lot when I was new in the fandom. It's 4 years old but shares a few of the awful things the boys have to deal while they were in the band. One phrase Jasmine said is that One Direction was not a band they were a brand, yes they love each other but the way management sell them was as brand and a very manufactered and control one, contrary of all the lies Simon said recently.

[buddieisgoingcanon25]

thought u should know that ryan guzman interviewed britney spears and simon cowell

I saw that. I wonder why he was the one to interview them…

Weird….

[so-idialed-9]

I just really want to higjlight these previous tags 🤣 from @daggerandrose @swallows-are-for-hope and @fefeyuen

Things that didn’t happen.

Claiming Harry listened to his podcast and rang him to say how happy he was in 1d.

[burningred1989]

UNDERDOG PT. 3

A/N: Last part of the “Underdog”

Y’all know I’m a sucker for making Simon Cowell the villain ;)

Underdog | PART 2

MASTERLIST

<<<<<

Niall had never been happier. Since he and Y/N started dating, his world had become brighter. Their days were filled with simple joys—museum dates where they laughed over silly exhibits, theme park adventures that left them breathless from screaming on roller coasters, cozy movie nights where they’d argue over which snacks to share, and board game battles that usually ended in Niall accusing Y/N of cheating, both of them in fits of laughter. For the first time, Niall felt truly seen and loved for who he was, not just as a member of One Direction.

Fans noticed the change in him almost immediately. His energy on stage was infectious, his interviews were filled with laughter, and his social media posts carried a warmth that hadn’t been there before. Directioners began speculating about the person behind his happiness.

But not everyone saw this as a good thing. One Direction’s management, always focused on maintaining the band’s image, viewed Y/N as a distraction. They summoned both Niall and Y/N to a meeting, the tension in the air palpable as they entered the sleek, sterile office.

Simon Cowell sat at the head of the table, flanked by other executives. The other boys—Harry, Liam, Louis, and Zayn—were seated along the side, their expressions uneasy.

“Niall,” Simon began, his tone sharp, “we’ve noticed a change in you lately. While it’s great that you’re happy, this… relationship is becoming a distraction. We need you focused on the band.”

Niall frowned, his jaw tightening. “A distraction? She’s not a distraction. She’s the reason I’ve been performing better, feeling better.”

Simon leaned forward, his gaze cold. “This isn’t about feelings. This is about what’s best for the band. You need to end it. Immediately.”

Niall’s face reddened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Are you serious? You’re asking me to break up with someone who makes me feel loved and appreciated? Do you have any idea what that means to me? Especially after everything you’ve done to make me feel like I’m not enough?”

The room fell silent.

Niall’s voice cracked as tears began streaming down his face. “You’ve turned my mic down during performances so the others could be heard more. You’ve made me feel like the underdog in my own band. And now, when I finally have someone who sees me for me, you want to take that away too?”

The other boys exchanged guilty glances, their faces pale. Harry looked down at his hands, Zayn rubbed the back of his neck, Liam bit his lip, and Louis blinked rapidly, fighting back his own emotions. None of them had realized how deeply Niall had been hurt.

Simon, however, remained unmoved. “This isn’t personal, Niall. It’s business. If you don’t end this, we’ll have no choice but to remove you from the band.”

Niall’s breath hitched, the weight of the ultimatum crushing him. “You’d really kick me out? After everything we’ve built together?”

Y/N, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, tears streaming down her face as she watched the love of her life break apart, couldn’t stay silent any longer. She stood, her voice trembling but firm.

“I’ll leave,” she said, her words cutting through the tension like a blade.

Niall’s head snapped toward her, his eyes wide. “Y/N, no—”

She shook her head, her tears falling faster. “I’ll do whatever you want,” she said to Simon, her voice breaking. “Just don’t ruin his career. Please.”

Simon’s lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. “That’s a wise decision.” He gestured to a security guard at the door. “Escort her out.”

Niall jumped to his feet, his chair screeching against the floor. “You can’t do this!” he shouted, his voice raw. He reached for Y/N, but she stepped back, her eyes filled with sorrow.

“This is for you, Niall,” she whispered. “I can’t be the reason you lose everything.”

As the guard gently took her arm, Niall’s knees buckled, and he sank back into his chair, his sobs shaking his entire body. The boys watched helplessly, their own eyes glistening with tears as Y/N was led out of the room.

The door closed with a heavy thud, and the silence that followed was deafening. Niall sat motionless, his head in his hands, his heart shattered. The light that Y/N had brought into his life was gone, snuffed out by the very people who were supposed to support him.

In the days and weeks that followed, fans noticed the change. The spark in Niall’s eyes was gone, replaced by a dull emptiness. His once-energetic performances became mechanical, his laughter in interviews forced. Directioners flooded social media with messages of concern, begging to know what had happened to the happy, glowing Niall they had fallen in love with.

But Niall couldn’t bring himself to answer. Every time he thought of Y/N—her laugh, her smile, the way she made him feel like he mattered—it was like a knife to the chest. And as he sat alone in his dressing room, flipping through the album she had given him, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever feel whole again.

<<<<<

Years later…

Years had passed since the breakup, but the memory of Y/N still lingered in the corners of Niall’s mind. Time had dulled the pain, but it hadn’t erased the “what ifs” that occasionally crept in during quiet moments. He had thrown himself into his solo career, pouring his heart into his music. Fans adored him, his songs topping charts and selling out arenas, but there was always a part of him that felt unfinished, like a chapter left unwritten.

Now, he was on stage, guitar in hand, performing one of his most personal songs, This Town. The soft, aching melody filled the arena, his voice carrying the raw emotion of the lyrics. As he scanned the sea of fans illuminated by the glow of their phones, his eyes caught something—or rather, someone.

It was a figure near the middle of the crowd, partially hidden beneath a black cap and a leather jacket. She wasn’t screaming or holding up a sign like the others. She seemed to be deliberately blending in, her head slightly bowed, her presence almost ghostlike.

But Niall knew.

His heart stuttered, his fingers momentarily slipping on the guitar strings. He quickly recovered, but the world around him seemed to blur as he focused on her. Y/N. Even after all these years, he could feel her presence like a gravitational pull, unmistakable amidst thousands of people.

She didn’t look up, didn’t cheer, didn’t do anything to draw attention to herself. It was as if she didn’t want him to notice her. But how could he not?

He finished the song, the audience erupting into cheers, but Niall’s mind was elsewhere. He stole glances in her direction throughout the rest of the set, hoping she wouldn’t leave before he had a chance to see her. His heart raced with every passing moment, a mix of excitement and fear building in his chest.

When the final song ended, the lights dimmed, and the crowd began to disperse, Niall’s eyes darted back to where she had been. She was moving toward the exit, her head down, weaving through the throngs of fans.

“No, not again,” Niall muttered under his breath.

Ignoring the crew and security trying to guide him backstage, he jumped down from the stage, his heart pounding in his chest. Fans screamed as they saw him moving through the crowd, but he didn’t stop to acknowledge them. He couldn’t lose her again.

“Y/N!” he called out, but his voice was swallowed by the noise of the crowd.

She kept walking, her pace quickening as if she sensed him coming.

Niall pushed through the sea of fans, murmuring hurried apologies as he brushed past them. His pulse roared in his ears, his legs moving on autopilot. He couldn’t let her slip away again.

Finally, he reached her just as she was about to exit the arena. He reached out, his hand gently grabbing her elbow.

“Wait,” he breathed, his voice trembling as he turned her around to face him.

Time seemed to stop as their eyes met. Y/N’s face was a mixture of shock and uncertainty, her lips parting slightly as if to say something but no words came.

And in that moment, Niall forgot about the crowd, the cameras, the noise. All he could see was her, the person he thought he’d lost forever, standing right in front of him.

Niall’s breath hitched as he stared at her, his hand still gently gripping her elbow. For a moment, he couldn’t believe she was real, standing in front of him after all these years. His voice came out in a whisper, laden with disbelief and emotion.

“You’re here,” he said, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to process the moment.

Y/N looked away, her lips trembling. “You’re not supposed to see me,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the muffled noise of the crowd beyond the arena doors.

Niall shook his head, his grip on her arm tightening slightly, as though afraid she might vanish if he let go. “We need to get out of here,” he said, his voice firmer now. “People are starting to notice.”

Without waiting for her response, he led her through the crowd, weaving past lingering fans and crew members. His heart pounded with a mix of urgency and exhilaration. Once they reached the backstage area, he guided her toward his dressing room, his security team ensuring they weren’t followed.

The door clicked shut behind them, and for the first time, they were alone. The room was dimly lit, the faint hum of the crowd still audible through the walls. Niall gestured for her to sit on the couch, his hands trembling slightly. She hesitated but eventually sank into the seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

“What are you doing here?” Niall asked, his voice soft but insistent. His eyes searched hers, a storm of emotions swirling within them—confusion, hope, and a lingering sadness.

Y/N hesitated, her gaze fixed on her hands. “I’ve always been here,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. “Even after everything went down, I still went to your shows. And the boys’ shows too. I just… I made sure your management wouldn’t see me. I didn’t want to cause trouble or risk being dragged out of the venue.”

Niall’s throat tightened as her words sank in. She had been there all along, silently supporting him from the shadows, even when he thought she was gone.

Y/N’s voice wavered as she continued, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know you probably don’t want to see me, but—”

Before she could finish, Niall closed the distance between them in an instant, pulling her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her with a desperation that mirrored the ache in his heart. Tears streamed down his face, soaking into her jacket as he held her as if afraid she might disappear again.

Y/N froze for a moment, shocked by the suddenness of his hug, but then her own tears began to fall. Her arms found their way around his back, clutching him just as tightly.

“It’s just nice to see you,” she whispered through her sobs, her voice trembling. “To see how much you’ve grown into who you are now. You’ve done so well, Niall.”

Niall pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her face, though his arms never left her. His tears continued to fall, his voice breaking as he spoke. “Don’t leave me again. Please. I can’t go through that again.”

Y/N’s heart shattered at the raw pain in his voice. She shook her head, her own tears blurring her vision. “I’m so sorry,” she choked out. “I gave up so easily back then. I thought it was the only way to protect you, but I didn’t realize how much it would hurt us both.”

Niall gently placed a finger over her lips, silencing her. “None of that matters now,” he said, his voice still shaky but filled with conviction. “What matters is that you’re here. Right now. With me.”

She nodded, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks as she leaned her forehead against his. They stayed like that for a moment, their breaths mingling, the years of pain and longing melting away in the warmth of their embrace.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Niall felt whole.

Niall pulled back slightly, his hands still gently resting on Y/N's arms, his tear-streaked face softening into a tentative smile. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his thumb grazing her cheek with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

"Do you... want to come home with me?" he asked hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N looked at him, her eyes still glassy from the tears, and nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that," she said softly.

Relief flooded Niall's features, and he took her hand, intertwining their fingers as he led her out of the dressing room. The halls were quiet now, most of the crew busy packing up. Niall ignored the occasional curious glance from staff as they made their way to his car

When they reached the car, Niall opened the passenger door for her, his hand never leaving hers until she was seated. He walked around to the driver's side, sliding in and starting the engine, but before he pulled out of the lot, he reached over and took her hand again.

As he drove through the quiet streets, his hand shifted to rest on her thigh, his touch warm and grounding. Y/N glanced down at his hand, a small smile tugging at her lips. She placed her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Niall glanced at her briefly, his own lips curving into a smile. "I missed this," he murmured, his voice soft but full of emotion.

Y/N's heart fluttered at his words, and she squeezed his hand again in silent agreement.

When they arrived at his house, Niall parked the car and quickly got out, coming around to open her door. His hand found hers again as they walked inside, the warmth of his touch steadying the whirlwind of emotions swirling between them.

The house was quiet, dimly lit, and felt like a world away from the chaos of the arena. Niall hesitated for a moment, his hand still clasping hers as they stood in the entryway.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Y/N nodded, her eyes meeting his. "Yeah, I'm okay," she assured him, her voice soft but certain.

Niall stepped closer, his free hand coming up to cup her cheek. His thumb brushed over her skin as he gazed at her, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation. When he found none, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss.

The kiss was gentle at first, testing the waters, but when Y/N responded, her lips moving against his, Niall deepened it. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss grew more passionate.

Y/N's arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she leaned into him. Niall's heart pounded in his chest, but for the first time in years, it wasn't from fear or sadness -it was from pure, unfiltered happiness.

He guided her gently toward the bedroom, their lips never parting as they moved. When they reached the bed, Niall hovered over her, his hands braced on either side of her as he looked down at her, his eyes filled with love and longing.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice barely audible as he leaned down to kiss her again.

Y/N's hands slid up his arms, her touch sending shivers down his spine. Their kisses deepened, each one more urgent and filled with emotion than the last. The years of separation melted away, leaving only the two of them in this moment, rediscovering each other.

The night unfolded in a blur of whispered words and shared touches, a blissful reunion of two souls that had been apart for far too long. As they lay together, tangled in each other's arms, Niall pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, a content smile on his lips.

For the first time in years, he felt whole again. And as Y/N nestled closer to him, her hand resting over his heart, he knew she felt the same.

<<<<<

The soft glow of morning light filtered through the curtains as Niall stirred awake. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he glanced down and saw Y/N’s head resting gently on his chest, her hair fanned out over his skin. Her arm was draped across his torso, holding him as though even in sleep she didn’t want to let go.

A smile crept onto Niall’s face, his heart swelling with a warmth he hadn’t felt in years. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, careful not to wake her, and then reached for his phone on the nightstand.

As soon as he unlocked it, notifications flooded the screen. His heart sank slightly as he saw headlines and photos plastered everywhere.

He scrolled through the pictures—one of him stopping Y/N at the arena, their hands clasped tightly as he led her to his car. Another showed them walking toward his front door, their fingers intertwined. The most intimate of all was a blurry shot through his window, capturing them mid-kiss, passion and years of longing evident even in the grainy image.

Niall sighed, a mix of emotions washing over him. He was grateful for the support, but the invasion of their privacy so soon after reconnecting stung. He didn’t want anything to ruin this moment, not when he finally had her back.

Hearing a soft sigh, Niall quickly locked his phone and set it aside. He turned his attention back to Y/N as she began to stir, her eyelashes fluttering before her eyes opened slowly. She looked up at him, her gaze still hazy with sleep, and offered a soft, sleepy smile.

“Good morning,” she murmured, her voice raspy but sweet.

“Good morning, love,” Niall replied, leaning down to kiss her.

But before his lips could meet hers, Y/N quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks flushing. “Morning breath,” she mumbled, her eyes wide with embarrassment.

Niall chuckled, his laugh rumbling through his chest. “Oh, come on, I don’t care about that,” he teased, trying to lean in again.

Y/N shook her head stubbornly, sitting up. “No way. Let’s brush our teeth first,” she said, playfully narrowing her eyes at him.

“Alright, alright,” Niall relented, throwing the covers off and getting out of bed. He extended a hand to her, helping her up, and together they padded to the bathroom.

They stood side by side at the sink, brushing their teeth and stealing glances at each other through the mirror. Niall made a face at her, toothpaste foam comically puffing out of his mouth, and Y/N burst into laughter, nearly choking on her own toothbrush.

After rinsing their mouths, Niall turned to her with a mischievous grin. Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms, causing her to squeal in surprise. “Niall!” she laughed, kicking her feet as he carried her back to the bedroom.

He tossed her onto the bed gently, her laughter filling the room. “You’re unbelievable,” she said between giggles, her cheeks flushed from both the sudden movement and the sheer joy of the moment.

Niall climbed onto the bed, his laughter joining hers as he hovered over her. “Unbelievable, huh?” he teased, his blue eyes sparkling.

Before she could respond, he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. It started soft and sweet, but as the seconds passed, it deepened, becoming more passionate. Y/N’s hands found their way to his hair, her fingers tangling in the soft strands as she kissed him back with just as much fervor.

When they finally pulled away, both slightly breathless, Niall rested his forehead against hers, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek. “I’m so happy you’re back in my life,” he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

Y/N’s heart swelled at his words, and she cupped his face, her thumbs brushing away the remnants of dried tears from the night before. “I’m happy too,” she whispered back.

Niall smiled, a genuine, radiant smile that lit up his entire face. For the first time in years, he felt like he had everything he needed. And as he looked into Y/N’s eyes, he knew he’d never let her go again.

<<<<<

A/N: Thank y’all for reading.

[voxina]

Jade Thirlwall was only 14 when she first presented herself for judgement. She put on her best leopard-print headband and bravely sang some of Whitney Houston’s ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’ in front of the X Factor panel. “You’re a funny little thing, aren’t you,” remarked an amused Simon Cowell, like a cat playing with its food. Louis Walsh then jumped in with: “Unusual!” In response, Thirlwall thanked them with an unwieldy grin. 

For this tiny singer, it would be a case of third time lucky. After being put through to boot camp twice, she auditioned again at the age of 18, now wearing leopard-print trousers. Judge Kelly Rowland told the naturally shy teenager she’d be good in a girl group, an idea that Thirlwall was completely unimpressed with. She was resolute about being a solo artist and an unusual one at that.  

Rowland, of Destiny’s Child fame, had correctly identified herself in Thirlwall. That season of the show, Thirlwall was placed in what would become the second biggest-selling UK girl group of all time, Little Mix. Their accolades could fill an infinite scrolling Wiki page. They were a well-oiled commercial pop machine amassing billions of streams with hits like ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Shout Out to My Ex’ while touring stadiums until they went on hiatus in 2022. “I didn’t see myself as a conventional girl’s girl. I was nerdy and quiet. When they told me I was gonna be put in a girl group, I automatically thought of Pussycat Dolls,” she laughs. “I thought, ‘Oh no, I’m not sexy — and if they’re bitchy, I’ll struggle because I’m not confrontational at all. I shrink at any drama.’ But it turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to me for my confidence and understanding of sisterhood.”

Tonight, I’m sharing wine with her at a table in Shoreditch House to discuss the fact that Thirlwall finally has what she wanted: she is the solo pop star she always dreamed of being. “I’m a bit of a dark horse,” the Rolling Stone UK Trailblazer Award winner tells me. “I’ll try anything once. I don’t see myself as a safe person creatively and I am a bit strange. All my life I’ve been told I’m weird.” Her bandmates and friends saw it, her boyfriend, Rizzle Kicks singer Jordan Stephens, saw it, Cowell clocked it after only minutes in her company, and now the rest of the world gets to see it.  

Outwardly, she didn’t seem like the biggest personality in the band, but behind the scenes, Thirlwall had been the creative driving force and business mind. For her solo project, that incisive playfulness is fully on display. From the horror-influenced visuals to the Drag Race inspiration, Thirlwall — whose solo artist name is JADE — is more aligned with Charli XCX than Little Mix. On the addictive lead single, ‘Angel of My Dreams’, she switches between a Y2K sound, hyperpop and a nostalgic girl band chorus gone wonky to tell a story about the dark side of the music industry, a theme that is repeated across her presently untitled debut album. It’s smart and entirely unexpected.  

In person, Thirlwall has the same excitable offbeat energy she had as a 14-year-old in her first audition. She’s like a conspiratorial friend primed for gossip exchange: she directs me to a clip that circulated from a Little Mix interview where fans thought she was on cocaine because she was pulling odd faces. “People don’t believe me even now,” she laughs, pausing to sip on her rosé. There were bad moments and dramas when she was in the group, of course, but she’s prepared for the same to happen in her solo career. “I’m never going to discredit what we achieved. I don’t have anything bad to say about it, so I wouldn’t stir anything up, just to look cool,” she laughs again. 

The group’s young fanbase has matured with its members. Thirlwall doesn’t see it as her responsibility to appease them or tell them what they should and shouldn’t do. “I’m 31 years old, I’m gonna write about stuff I experience, my merchandise will reflect that, you know what I mean?” One such recent merchandise bundle includes sex aids. The other day, while recording with Sugababes, she told them what’s included in the package and had to explain to Keisha Buchanan what a butt plug is, much to her amusement. This is an older and wiser Jade Thirlwall having even more fun.

Thirlwall grew up in a household of eclectic tastes in South Shields, a seaside town near Newcastle. Her mother was a Motown fan who looked like Diana Ross, while her dad listened to 80s power ballads and VH1 classics. Her big brother — who she aspired to be like as every younger sibling does — was deeply into the happy hardcore-clubland classics era of the 90s and 00s. It was a happy childhood, in part due to the fact that there’s a strong Yemeni community in South Shields (Thirlwall is half Arab: one-quarter Yemeni, one-quarter Egyptian). “I have a lot of memories of my grandad cooking curries or waiting for him outside the mosque,” she remembers. “I listened to his prayer and Arabic music, too.” It wasn’t until she went to a Catholic secondary school, where she felt alienated, that she began to struggle with racist remarks and her feelings of anxiety. She was bullied by other girls, hence her initial reservations about being in a girl band. 

While she was in Little Mix, she didn’t understand that she could have spoken out more about her race. “I’d only ever seen negative stereotypes of Arab people in the press, so I was scared to promote my heritage,” she says. “I feel sad for my younger self that I could’ve been the representation I needed back then. I try to make up for that now.” Thirlwall has been outspoken about issues close to her heart. Whether it was attending Black Lives Matter protests and pro-Palestine rallies or becoming an LGBTQ+ rights ambassador for the UK charity Stonewall, she stands out among many of her peers for her political verve. 

Each of the girls knew a year ahead that Little Mix were disbanding, so they individually spent that period preparing in the studio. “It took me a long time to figure out how to not write a Little Mix song because that’s all I’d done for a decade,” admits Thirlwall. Panicked about the idea of having so much stillness after the group, she made an abundance of music in a bid to find her sound as soon as possible. This became an advantage: so sure of what she wanted to do, Thirlwall was able to approach potential labels with a fully formed vision. After signing with RCA of Sony, they assured her she could take her time to release her solo music, which came as a surprise: in the pop world, two and a half years is a long time to disappear. “In hindsight, I was freaking out about existing without the group and thought I had to jump on the hype of us just disbanding. If I’d released then, I would’ve been anxious and have put so much pressure on myself to be as big as [Little Mix] was.”

[...]

If Thirlwall was in charge of the music industry, it’d look different. Sure, it’s improving for artists because social media means “you can’t get away with as much bad shit”, but there’s some way to go. When I ask her how she’d change it, she sits up in a businesslike manner and adopts an Elle Woods from Legally Blonde tone. Before she’ll answer that, she’ll take me back to the nagging feeling she had that something wasn’t right with Little Mix. The four girls were presented with different contracts and told who their team was, and she didn’t feel she had a choice. 

To all intents and purposes, Thirlwall and her fellow Little Mix band members were child stars. She agrees with this assessment. “I almost think you shouldn’t be allowed to be a star until you’re 18. I’m so glad I was turned away and didn’t get put in Little Mix until I was 18 — and even then, I feel like that was too young,” she says. 

Previous X Factor winner and South Shields born-and-bred Joe McElderry had warned Thirlwall of his negative experiences in the industry. “I remember him saying make sure your mum’s there when you’re doing all these important signings. But I was too young to understand what he meant, and I made the same mistakes as him.”  

It wasn’t until halfway into their career that the young women looked around and wondered who that person in the room being paid to be there was or why their peers and friends were making more money than them. Thirlwall and bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock helped to write the Little Mix music but weren’t signed into a publishing deal until 2019. Unfortunately, it was a “really shit deal” that they were stuck in but at least she was finally recognised as a songwriter, financially speaking. (For her solo career, she has not signed a publishing deal because she now finds it hard to trust the entire framework.)  

If she were queen of the industry, her first decree would be to introduce a comprehensive course that artists take as soon as they’re signed by a label (if not sooner), that teaches them what a label deal is, how royalties work and how they make their money. That would prevent the type of situation that Little Mix got into when they were first signed. “When you come from a working-class background, you get your advance and think you’ve made it, but you have to recoup everything back. You’re getting all these lavish cars and making them wait for ages, but you’re footing that bill eventually,” she laughs drily. She would also introduce the sort of mental health care she’s managed to negotiate as a solo artist with her new label: a substantial pot of money that she can use if she needs therapy. 

The topic of mental health brings the conversation round to Liam Payne, the One Direction member who tragically died in an accident while under the influence of drugs in October. He was Thirlwall’s peer — the only X Factor pop group to outperform Little Mix by any metric was One Direction, with the two groups frequently spoken about in the same breath — and was once her friend. They both had their first auditions during the same series, aged 14. The pair returned a second time: Liam went through to the finals and was placed into One Direction while Thirlwall was sent home. Payne was encouraging of Thirlwall and told her she had to keep trying X Factor. She was then put in a group on a later series. They fell out of touch over the years, but she was naturally upset to hear of the news for both him and for his family — their mothers are still friends.   

“When the news broke out, it did shake me up because we’d started the same, but we’d ended up on very different paths. We both wanted to make it so much and sometimes that is a blessing and a curse to get what you’ve dreamed of. It’s unbelievably tragic,” she says of Payne’s death.  

Just hours after it was reported that Payne had died, Thirlwall was due to start a heavy day of promo for her single ‘Fantasy’. She cancelled it as she didn’t feel like she was the right person to be fielding questions about his passing so soon after it happened. After all, she hadn’t been close to Payne over the past several years. “All I can speak of is who I knew he was when we were kids, and he was someone that wanted to make his family proud,” she reflects. “He wanted to be a singer more than anyone I knew.”

[Full article here]

[cheshirecherry]

Harry Styles has become synonymous with ‟sexiest man alive” and ‟world's sexiest man” simply by existing but at what cost?

DISCLAIMER: I own no pictures, articles, videos, excerpts used citations will follow nor am I affiliated with H / my take

Here I will take you down memory lane magnifying Harry's image from the start of X Factor circa 2010 to present day; with a fine eye pertaining to his sex appeal and womanizer narrative depicted in the limelight and mass media. As boyband 1D began to rise to fame the general public became fixated on Harry's sexual attributes.

Harry Styles appears to be the whole package. He has talent, wit, humor, a sensitive heart and looks but the harsh reality of living in a superficial world is: physical appearances are favored over substance. In result conventionally attractive people like Harry fall subject to heavy sexualization. Harry's professional music career started in 2010 as did the narrative.

2010

April 11th Harry auditions for the X Factor at the age of 16 years old

Harry is selected to be in a 5-part boyband 3 months later in July (birth of 1D)

Sep 26th Harry stars in a X Factor clip that aired with Katie a potential love interest and multiple other female contestants simultaneously

I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABYYYYY Harry is portrayed to be a manwhore/player multiple women are at his disposal but he gets caught in the end; Harry doesn't pick any of them and male contestant Wagner sweeps him off his feet

Oct 7th The gold thong incident

Harry is exploited in a magazine as a minor (this makes me so angry and sick) and then asked about it in a interview see video Harry is labeled as an exhibitionist which implies Harry likes to arouse the others in the house with his nudeness or derive attention from his habit of being naked Typical child audiences don't know what an exhibitionist is This is a clear indication for adult attention and later grooming

Oct 20th Harry headlines in The Mirror for the first time featuring singer Cher Lloyd and their blossoming friendship

This article is harmless in nature but helps promote Harry and female companionship on X Factor

Oct 21st 1D video diary week 2

Harry's role in 1D is the flirt at this time this is a given and understood (flirts are promiscuous and highly charming)

Oct 31st The Mirror claims Harry denies dating rumors with Cher Lloyd and insists Harry is interested in singer Frankie Sanford

cited: ‟Cher's not really my type. She's a great girl. We've become good friends but that's it.”

A follow up from the first article and the introduction of Harry and love interests in the media (Harry is referred to as a heartthrob - his appearance is emphasized; his sex appeal is apparent) Harry is picked as receiving the most attention within the band and LT of 1D teases Harry about his crush on Frankie Sanford see video (19:27)

Nov 2nd Harry shows some skin on his bunk bed

The boy likes to be nude again why exploit a minor what's the motive?

The boys talk about Harry's nudity

More excessive showing of Harry and nudeness

Nov 11th Harry confesses his worst habit

Getting naked is his favorite (fansite dedication post)

Nov 13th The Mirror uses descriptive language to depict Harry seducing a mystery girl in Simon Cowell's dressing room (STEAMY!?)

Sources state he was caught after kissing-and-telling

Nov 22nd Daily Mail stirs up Harry and Cher rumors with pictures

This is a common tactic in the music industry; articles will be released with a storyline and pictures will be "leaked" or be released to sway the publics opinion regardless of what was previously reported and it successfully added more fuel to keep the fire burning (attention on Harry)

Just in a span of a few months Harry was a subject of news revolving around his looks and women not his singing! That's normal though right?

Dec 7th The Mirror spew more bs 21 year old Peaches Geldof shows interest in little Harry

Harry shows no interest back

Dec 13th The Telegraph makes Harry the center of attention after a supposed naughty lip read to X Factor's winner Matt Cardle

I find it extremely odd Matt won a TV SHOW but Harry was the center of attention for something inaudible and sexual see video

Ask oneself why and how Harry was relevant in the tabloids after losing X Factor

2011

Jan 30th Anorak News talks 1D X Factor lost and groupies

Harry is referred to as a womanizer at the age of 16 years old prior to his 17th birthday (this breaks my heart completely)

April 11th Sugarscape continues the topic of Harry's nudity streak on X Factor and inquires about UAN tour

Pay attention to how it is a common topic for him; more sexual attention is now on Harry

July 29th 1D appears on Chatty Man for the first time and Harry explains comment made to Matt Cradle

Harry confesses it was completely innocent as he was talking about cats; nobody believes him although it got him grounded for a week (his age is really showing here)

Alan Carr inquires about the girls starring in WMYB

Harry replies twice "the girls were lovely in the video" see video (9:05) Alan Carr pokes at Harry about one of the girls Madison

Alan Carr inquires about Harry stripping on a plane

LP of 1D chimes in and Harry laughs it off as Alan playfully gestures himself opening an imaginary cover to show his body off (this made me uncomfortable; Alan insinuates Harry wants to show his genitals to others unprovoked) see video (6:23)

Sep 19th Yahoo reignites Harry and Frankie Sanford rumors

Clickbait

Sep 27th Capital FM ignites Harry and Adele rumors

More clickbait

Incoming Caroline Flack spam *she is now deceased

Oct 24th Daily Mail claims Harry kisses 32 year old X Factor host Caroline Flack

Grooming has begun and future potential love interests will now be milked in every media outlet from this time forward

Nov 4th RTE reports Flack claiming she regretted kissing Harry

Follow up article

Nov 7th Digitial Spy reports joke gone wrong by comedian David Williams

cited: ‟I'd like to suck his c*ck.”

Male sexual attention is prevalent; solidifying Harry's sex appeal to all audiences

Nov 17th The Mirror continues hinting at Flack and Harry

The phrase stop feeling weird to describe the distaste the world had of their arrangement is laughable

Nov 21st The Mirror gets an answer from H

cited: ‟A lot of people write things on the internet and a lot of the time they don't think about what they are writing or how it's going to affect people.”

‟It's a shame people say that. We are close friends.”

‟We are friends. We hang out sometimes but that's about it for now.”

Around this time Flack received death threats for her association with Harry

Nov 22nd Sugarscape inquires about living arrangements between Flack and Harry

Anne Twist; mother of Harry notifies him of the current rumor

Digital Spy reports X Factor contestant Amelia Lily and Harry getting acquainted

Lily refused to speak on their situation due to fear of backlash

Nov 25th Harry talks virginity with Glamour

Why is a teenage boys sex life NEWS?

Nov 29th The Mirror reports tweet from music exec Sarita Borge

Harry has a dinner date with Borge "Weeeeey, just got a visit from the young ledge that is @Harry_Styles. Ain’t he pretty?" original twitter @SaritaBorge cannot be viewed in present day

Tweets around this time can be found on various accounts about Harry and his lifestyle; he is referred to as a man hoe

Dec 7th Digital Spy reports one night with Flack

Harry was spotted going to her home and leaving; great timing paparazzi!

Dec 8th Capital FM interviews 1D at their first Jingle Bell Ball and questions nudity amongst the band's first meetings

Everyone's full undivided attention is on H Harry speaks on skinny dipping at the bungalow see video (40:14)

Dec 10th IBT reports Flack preparing for the holidays with Harry

It cannot be confirmed Flack met family but was followed by Anne Twist; the mother of Harry on Twitter

Dec 11th The Mirror stir up rumors with disapproval from X Factor bosses and Anne

Very interesting

Dec 22nd Daily Mail reports Flack dropping Harry off at a venue for the start of the UK leg

Teenager Harry is referred to as Flack's boyfriend; citations are included for opposing and pro viewpoints (Daily Mail takes a unbiased and neutral stance)

Dec 23rd Daily Mail suggests Flack is a FWB

Harry explicitly states he’s single

2012

Jan 3rd Metro reports Harry NYE fun

LT of 1D and H host a party together at their home This article is a sympathy pull for Flack Metro claims Harry was crying over Flack as he has fallen for her hard (the source: trust me bro)

Jan 24th Daily Mail reports Jody Flack; sister of Caroline Flack dropping Harry off at a train station

This article is propaganda to persuade the masses H was close with the Flack family

Jan 26th Harry tweets about Flack

H gets personal online

Jan 27th The Mirror reports Flack and Harry split

The timing is astonishing; Harry's 18th birthday and the USA leg is approaching; with a breakup in the media Harry is now on "the market" for outlets to rip apart with other love interest pairings as he travels in the USA

Exciting things were coming into fruition! One Direction hit it off in the UK for their very first tour to promote their very first album Up All Night. Little Harry is living his dream and enjoying every moment of it with his best four mates. A Cheshire bakery boy is now transformed into a international sensation.

The media pushed for Harry to be perceived as a attractive young nudist friendly musician that can seduce men and enjoys women of all ages

Marketing plays the biggest role in a musician's career because it sets the tone for longevity, and Harry was a gold mine for sexual attention. As time goes by Harry's celebrity status elevates and speculation about his personal life becomes more intense and invasive.

WORK IN PROGRESS STANDBY

[hollywoodoutbreak]

America's Got Talent: Fantasy League is a new spin on the AGTformat, inviting back 40 fan favorites from previous seasons, and the four judges -- Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Mel B -- are now in coaching roles, each hoping to mentor their 10 acts into the finals and, ultimately, the championship. (Think of it as AGT meets The Voice, but with an all-star roster instead of blind auditions.) Cowell said he's really excited about the Fantasy League format because so many of the contestants are excited about the new format.

America's Got Talent: Fantasy League airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC, and episodes start streaming the following day on Peacock.

[sunshineandlyrics]

10 June 2024.

Note, Steven Bartlett was (too) kind with Simon and premised the question as Liam having "struggles" and the struggles that come with fame and change. No mention was made about Liam's problems with addiction.

If you want to watch that part of the Steven and Simon interview, just choose the relevant chapter x

[myonlyangel28]

i feel like something has shifted. i feel like big things are about to happen. i just hope harry and louis aren’t gonna be negatively affected by whatever is about to happen. i just hope they leave them alone and allow them to have some peace.

liam’s passing broke my heart into a million pieces. his death could’ve been prevented. i will never forgive simon cowell, syco, modest management, sony and others for the trauma they put our boys through.

this trauma caused zayn to have crippling anxiety, an eating disorder and immense mental health problems. if zayn never left 1d, i genuinely believe zayn wouldn’t be here today. he was very sick during the last year and a half that he was in the band and he was very depressed all the time. he had to leave to protect his peace and for the sake of his health. the fact he is still blamed and villainized for leaving is absolutely disgusting. he didn’t perform on stage for years because this industry broke him down and made him feel like he wasn’t good enough. he was targeted by racists constantly. this industry battered him. thankfully he is healing and taking his power back. i’ll always be proud of him and i’ll never stop supporting him.

niall lost his confidence for a while and was made to feel as if he wasn’t good enough. they told him he wasn’t as talented as the others. management would constantly turn off his mic at shows and he was even forced to perform w an injured knee countless times. niall is such a beautiful person inside and out.

louis was constantly tossed to the side and wasn’t given as many solos as the others boys. louis came in the group being so bubbly, carefree and sweet. he was so in love with harry and they had such a beautiful wholesome relationship. but after cakegate simon scared him into being this different person. i personally believed they tried some form of conversion therapy on louis. he changed so drastically after cakegate they made feel as if he wasn’t good enough. after cake gate, simon cowell and management forced louis to not be his amazing self and to alter his entire persona. the real louis is the louis before cakegate and the drastic change in his persona. they tore him from the love of his life and alienated him so much from harry. they hated that louis was gay and that he was in love with harry. they sabotaged his career bc he is in love with harry styles. for some fucked up reason, they think louis is a liability to harry (which he’s not) louis sacrificed his career for years so harry could have his.

harry went through the ringer during 1d. he has been objectified and exploited since he was 16 years old. he was branded as a womanizer. interviewers and some fans would sexually harass him, especially when he was 16-19. they made up stories ab him sleeping w many women and making him look like a womanizing jerk. harry is the most kind and gentle soul in the world. the main thing is that harry fell madly in love with louis. management did whatever it took to alienate them from each other. they caused harry to have crippling anxiety. harry cried after he was done w syco. he said that himself. they can’t stand that harry is gay and they think it’ll ruin his image and brand if he ever chose to come out.

they force harry and louis to stunt bc they can’t stand the thought of harry and louis being a couple. they hate that they are gay men in a heterosexual dominated industry. management couldn’t stand the thought of larry so they did whatever it took to alienate them from each other, separating them for many years publicly. harry, as well as the other boys were forced to perform when they were extremely ill. harry’s vocal chords almost got severely damaged bc they were pushing him too hard.

liam’s alcoholism started when he was in the band. liam himself stated that they would lock them in hotel rooms and that there would be an open bar. he also spoke about how he was depressed at times in the band and felt trapped. also, i will never forgive liam’s team and the people who bullied him until his last days. he deserved so much better.

i genuinely hope this industry gets taken down and my boys get justice. harry, louis, zayn and niall deserve better. liam deserved better. i hope this is the year that everything gets exposed and those responsible for harming my boys are held accountable. i hope they pay for what they’ve done to my boys.

i hope my boys come out on top and they can finally be free from the shackles this industry put on them. harry, louis, zayn and niall i love you boys more than you’ll ever know and i’ll never stop fighting for you.

liam i love you so much. you are deeply missed. i’ll never stop fighting for you❤️

[cliperry]

2012

BIOGRAPHY

One Direction: The UK’s Record-Breaking Boy Band

One Direction is a boy band consisting of Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan. The group was formed during the 10th season of The X Factor UK when each of the members initially auditioned as solo artists. However, they were later brought together to form a group, which ultimately led to them signing a record deal with Simon Cowell’s label.

Following their formation, they began recording in Los Angeles and Sweden, and in November 2011, they released their debut album Up All Night. The album quickly gained popularity, and after a promotional tour, it achieved number one on the US charts, making history as the first UK group to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In November 2012, Harry Styles was rumored to be dating Taylor Swift, further attracting media attention. That same month, One Direction released their second album, Take Me Home. The following year, in 2013, they released their third album, Midnight Memories. Impressively, all three albums debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, setting a Guinness World Record for the only boy band to achieve such success.

While previous UK boy bands like Take That, Westlife, and Boyzone had also gained significant fame, One Direction’s global success was on a whole new level.

INTERVIEW

This is One Direction’s official interview conducted for the release of their album FOUR. On the day of the interview, Zayn was absent due to illness, but the rest of the members participated.

"I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being famous... or maybe I will?" (Niall)

How do you feel about the release of FOUR? Liam Payne: Everyone is really excited. This album has been in the making for a long time—longer than any of our previous albums—so we’re really looking forward to sharing it with our fans as soon as possible.

Did you have any particular vision for the sound of the album? Harry Styles: Since we had already established the sound of Midnight Memories, we wanted to build upon that and take things even further with this album. The sound has evolved a little, and I think it has naturally matured as well. We’re really proud of how it turned out. It still feels like us, but it has a grander, more refined sound. Everyone is super excited. We even worked on the album while touring, so it felt like we were balancing two things at once.

Liam, you were quite involved in the production of this album, right? Liam: Yeah, there were a lot of great songs to choose from, but when we put together the album, some just didn’t feel like the right fit. Still, we recorded so many tracks, and in the end, the album turned out to be a much bigger project than I originally expected. I was honestly surprised at how much we accomplished.

What was the songwriting process like? Liam: It was more fulfilling than I could have imagined. There were times we stayed up working until 8 AM because we were so immersed in it.

Louis: Yeah, it was really fun. We’d all get together, relax, and just start working. Before we knew it, we had spent hours creating something we were proud of. When a great idea came to us, we didn’t want to stop writing. There were times we just didn’t want to leave the studio.

Most of the songs were written by you guys along with songwriters, right? How was that experience? Louis Tomlinson: Yeah, it was really great. Working with talented songwriters like Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic was inspiring. After that experience, I knew I wanted to be even more involved in the songwriting process going forward.

Liam: For me, writing songs is the best creative outlet. Sometimes, even when we couldn’t physically be with our fans, writing music felt like a way to stay connected to them.

Was there ever a time when a song didn’t feel right and you had to start over? Liam: Yeah, plenty of times. Sometimes we’d have what seemed like a great idea, but once we actually heard it, it didn’t quite fit. But that’s all part of the fun—reworking things until they’re just right.

Once again, Ed Sheeran has contributed a song to this album. What do you think about working with him? Harry: He’s amazing. Honestly, we’re so lucky to have the opportunity to work with such talented people. Ed is incredibly gifted, and I feel really lucky that he still wants to work with us. I’d love to collaborate with him again.

Do you have a favorite song from FOUR? Niall: Yeah, "Fireproof" was one of my favorites right from the start. It just has this really warm, feel-good energy.

Liam: The harmonies on that track are incredible, and the backing vocals really stand out.

Niall: Yeah, I love how different the songs on this album sound from each other. "Steal My Girl" feels very different from the rest of the album, which is cool.

What was it like working with Danny DeVito for the "Steal My Girl" music video? Niall: It was absolutely surreal. He was such a relaxed, easygoing guy, and the fact that he agreed to be in our music video was amazing. We were so grateful to have him on set.

Liam: Yeah, I even posted about it on Twitter. It was such a crazy experience to work with someone like him.

Since you were on a stadium tour while making this album, did that affect the way you wrote the songs? Liam: Definitely. We were constantly thinking about how the songs would sound in a stadium setting. The album naturally turned into something that felt made for live performances.

What was it like shooting the music video with Danny DeVito? Niall: He was hilarious. He brought such a great energy to the set. It was an honor to work with him.

Are you looking forward to performing these songs live? Louis: Absolutely! We kept the live performances in mind while making the album, so it’s going to be amazing to finally play these songs for the fans.

What do your fans mean to you? Harry: They mean everything to us. No matter how much time passes, we’re always in awe of their support. Sometimes we think, “Will fans slowly start to drift away?” But they never do. They’re always there for us.

Liam: We always try to put messages in our songs that we want to share with them. This album is kind of like a little box filled with pieces of who we are.

Do you think you’ll ever get used to being famous? Niall: I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it… or maybe I will?

Louis: I think the hardest part is accepting that you are a “celebrity.” But once you accept it, you just learn to enjoy the experience.

Liam: Yeah, we’ve thought about it a lot. But instead of overthinking, it’s better to just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

Are you excited for the American Music Awards? Liam: Yeah! I still remember the first time we performed there, I was so nervous. I even locked eyes with R. Kelly in the audience, and for a second, I just froze. It was one of those surreal moments where I thought, “Wow, this is my life now.”

What do you want for Christmas? Harry: I have no idea. My mom always asks me what I want, but I never know what to say.

Liam: Same here. I never know what I want for Christmas.

Harry: Honestly, I just end up getting socks every year. But hey, you can never have too many socks, right?

What message do you want to convey through this album? Liam: We just want people to enjoy this new sound. Out of all our albums, I think this one captures us the most. It has a fresh energy to it, and the things we wanted to express are packed into this little box called FOUR.*

HARRY STYLES

What is Harry Styles' life motto!? A look back at 18-year-old Harry—so charming even back then! Excerpt from his first-ever official interview in Japan INTERVIEW: AI ANAZAWA

"Every day is so busy, and no matter where I go, people recognize me as Harry Styles. But we’re just a group of 18, 19, and 20-year-old guys (now 21–23). Being in the spotlight is fun, and we’re all really close. That’s why every day is exciting."

Were you the type to be loved by everyone as a child? Were girls always drawn to you? Harry: There were always a lot of girls at school, yeah. And I had good friendships with them as well. So, I don’t know…

You were raised by your mother, right? Do you think that influenced how you interact with women? Harry: Yeah, maybe. I guess it helped me understand how to talk to girls and how to treat them.

Niall once mentioned that One Direction was like having "built-in best friends." What was it like suddenly being in a group with these guys? Harry: It’s been amazing. Like you said, I didn’t grow up with brothers, so getting to experience tour life together feels like I suddenly have big brothers. It’s been great.

Was there anything that took time to adjust to? Harry: Not really. We didn’t have to try hard to get along—it just happened naturally. I think we were really lucky to click so well right from the start. It all just fell into place perfectly.

You’ve always seemed so close, but you and Louis Tomlinson had an especially strong bond, right? Harry: Yeah, when we started living together, we got along really well. We have a similar sense of humor, so we just clicked immediately. From the beginning, we were good friends, and since we lived together, that bond only grew stronger.

When you have something on your mind, do you still go to Louis first? Harry: Hmm… now I feel like I can talk to any of the members about anything.

As a kid, were you always into music? Harry: I loved it. I’d sing along to songs in the car, and I’d always have music playing in my room. I think I grew up knowing music would always be a big part of my life.

You were in a band called White Eskimo. What kind of music did you play? Harry: We did covers—Blink-182, Nickelback, Bryan Adams… and we also played Jet’s "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" We tried all kinds of music. It was really fun.

So it was more of a rock band? Harry: Yeah, pretty much.

What do you like listening to now? Harry: Lately, I’ve been into The Beatles. I also love The Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Simon & Garfunkel. That kind of classic sound really speaks to me.

Any recent artists you like? Harry: I like The Maccabees. And, well… a lot of different things, really.

Who in One Direction is the biggest music geek? Harry: Hmm… I think we all love music in our own way. Niall listens to a lot of chart music and keeps up with what’s trending.

You don’t dance much on stage. Is that a conscious choice? Harry: It’s not that I decided not to dance—it’s just that I don’t really know how! Also, we want to be ourselves, and if I suddenly started busting out dance moves, it wouldn’t feel like me.

Do you read books? Harry: I haven’t read much recently, but a few weeks ago, I read a book about Buddhism.

Are you interested in Buddhism? Harry: It seemed interesting, so I gave it a read.

Did you learn anything from it? Harry: Yeah, I find mindfulness and meditation really fascinating. The book had some really interesting insights.

Do you have a life motto? Harry: Not really, but I try not to take things too seriously. At the same time, I want to dedicate myself fully to whatever I do. I also make sure not to do things that would hurt others. If you put good energy into the world, good things will come back to you.

Do you have a favorite comedian? Harry: Yeah, I really like Sean Lock—he’s hilarious. Michael McIntyre is great, too.

What about David Walliams and Little Britain? Harry: Oh yeah, that show is really funny.

David once made a joke on Channel 4 about wanting to, uh… do something explicit with you. Harry: Yeah, I heard about that. I guess that means I’m good-looking, right?

Do you ever wear cologne? Harry: Nah, I don’t really use it.

What’s the hardest part of being famous? Harry: Not being able to see my friends as much. I miss the people I used to spend every day with. But at the same time, I get to do what I love, so I can’t complain.

Do you call your mom often? Harry: Yeah, I try to call her almost every day. Sometimes I’m too busy, but whenever I have time, I make sure to check in.

Thanks for today, Harry. Harry (in Japanese): Arigatou gozaimasu!

FACT FILE

NAME: Harry Edward Styles

DATE OF BIRTH: February 1, 1994

PLACE OF BIRTH: Holmes Chapel, UK

FAVORITE ARTISTS: The Beatles, Coldplay, Foster the People, Kings of Leon

[zot3-flopped]

There's a piece on the Daily Mail that gives a very interesting behind-the-scenes of Liam's life (they also talk about a big childhood trauma but "whose full details the Mail has chosen not to publish"). It's behind a paywall but I've discovered that many times the reading mode in Firefox and Safari gets through anyway, so here it is:

---

Liam Payne's serious childhood trauma and why having a baby so young with Cheryl couldn't bring the stability that may have saved him: KATIE HIND

It was the autumn of 2011, and I had been summoned to Sony Music’s west London HQ to meet Britain’s hottest new boy band.

A few months earlier, five hopeful teenagers had auditioned for ITV’s X Factor talent show – and the music impresario Simon Cowell had drawn them together to form One Direction.

The fledgling stars had already attracted a global fanbase in the millions: a juggernaut that was drawing comparisons to 1960s Beatlemania, even though they had yet to release a song.

Now that was about to change. The band’s debut single, What Makes You Beautiful, was launching the following week – and I was there to interview the boys behind it.

Although they had seemed like sweet young things when we had briefly met at the Fountain Studios in Wembley, north-west London, during their X Factor live shows the previous year, I had expected these precocious adolescents to now be full of self-importance at their growing fame.

How wrong I was.

I arrived to find five handsome young men politely waiting to greet me, but one of them stood out thanks to his cute curly hair and his charming, talkative manner.

No, not Harry Styles – the only ex-1D member who has gone on to forge a successful, long-term solo career – but Liam Payne. Dressed down in a navy hoodie and jeans, Liam wrapped me in a warm hug and excitedly introduced me to his bandmates – Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik – in his strong Wolverhampton accent.

Looking younger than his 18 years, Liam told me how badly he was missing his beloved mum Karen’s cooking – so much so that he had resorted to eating chicken dippers warmed up in the microwave.

Living as he was out of suitcases in hotels, he asked me for ironing tips as he had yet to learn how to use one – and said he still spent much of his free time playing Nintendo.

He admitted that he had practised putting his hands behind his back and trying to sing like his hero Liam Gallagher, the snarling Oasis frontman. ‘I probably looked a bit stupid though,’ he said.

He also spoke lovingly about West Bromwich Albion, the football team he had supported since he was a young boy – though he regretted that he no longer had time to cheer them on in person.

As for girls, Liam told me he preferred shy and quiet ones, although he revealed he’d fallen in love with X Factor’s 2006 winner Leona Lewis, while he found singer Tulisa Contostavlos ‘really, really hot’.

Overall, he struck me as an innocent abroad – a child, really – who seemed too vulnerable a soul to last long in the cut-throat music world.

As the years passed, I met Liam many times at industry events and in chance encounters – and I never shook that worrying sense that he was, in some ways, a lost little boy.

I could never have known, of course, that just 13 years after our first interview, Liam would perish in the most terrible circumstances – following a long spell of torment, scandal and drink and drug abuse.

His descent into addiction had been playing out, in public and in private, for years – worsened by his fragile emotional state.

Many had tried to help him quit the substances that were destroying his life, but to no avail: following his death in Buenos Aires’s five-star CasaSur hotel on Wednesday evening, what appeared to be cocaine and heroin paraphernalia were found in his wrecked suite, with its smashed TV and half-drunk flutes of champagne.

It was a squalid end for one of the most famous young men in the world, so adored by ‘Directioners’ that he insisted he couldn’t leave his hotel without a large security detail (although it’s worth pointing out that other former bandmates, including the global megastar Styles, often travel without huge entourages).

So where did it all go wrong for him – and how did that smiling boy I met all those years ago, rough around the edges as he was, come to such a terrible end?

There is no doubt that he struggled, even more than his bandmates, with that explosive early fame and notoriety.

In a candid moment at 2014’s Brit Awards, Liam told me how difficult he found it to be unable to blend into a crowd. The band’s relentless schedule had taken its toll on him, as had the long months away from home.

He often wished, one of his friends later told me, that he had gone to university like many of his schoolmates.

Of course, Liam came to enjoy a lifestyle unimaginable to his old contemporaries at St Peter’s Collegiate, his Church of England secondary school in Wolverhampton.

Despite his insatiable appetite for drugs, his large property portfolio, his endless jaunts on private jets, taste for high fashion and luxury hotel stays, his bank balance was still thought to be in the millions when he died.

For all his fears that he had peaked so young, he still had decades ahead of him – and ample time to grow into the contented father to Bear, his son with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy, his friends and family longed for him to become.

But I can reveal that behind that smiling, cherubic face, Liam had suffered serious trauma in his childhood: a shadow from which he felt he could never escape and whose full details the Mail has chosen not to publish.

One friend told me: ‘Before he even began his showbiz career, he had demons from his formative years. He struggled with that and never quite got over it. He was in a band with four other guys, he could get any girl he wanted and he was earning millions – but he struggled to enjoy any of it.’

I can vouch for that: of all the 1D members, Liam seemed by far the most uncomfortable with his fame and fortune.

I would see him most years at the Brits, where at first he would dash over to say hello, often reminding me that he had enjoyed me asking him ‘fun questions’ at our first interview.

Yet as time went on, his chaotic living began to catch up with him, and his manner became ever more unpredictable.

In February 2013, at a Brit Awards afterparty organised by his music label at the upmarket Arts Club in Mayfair, I saw him drunkenly dancing with his bandmates – by far the most bleary-eyed of them.

That December, I bumped into him in the Kurt Geiger shoe shop in Canary Wharf, east London, where he was buying his then girlfriend Sophia Smith – a former school sweetheart – a pair of boots for Christmas.

Gone was his carefree demeanour of just two years earlier, he now seemed strikingly shy. He told me he had bought a penthouse flat in the Docklands, and at my insistence, he posed for a picture with me before dashing off.

During 2013’s Take Me Home tour, the band performed an average of a concert every two days, completing 124 dates between February and November. That, I’m told, put unbearable pressure on Liam, who would often say that he ‘just wanted to be normal’.

Of course, the fame came with perks – women chief among them. Liam’s best-known romance was with Cheryl, who was ten years his senior, which had begun in 2016 following her split from her French husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.

They quickly became the most talked-about couple in showbiz –and only six months after they were confirmed to be an item, Cheryl revealed she was expecting their baby.

For Liam, however, the pregnancy was a huge shock: he was, he allegedly told friends, not ready to become a dad.

With 1D having gone on ‘permanent hiatus’ in 2016, he was trying to launch his solo career, and becoming a father – especially to a woman a decade older than him –was not part of his plans.

He told friends that he felt like Cheryl, who was 33 when Bear was born, had used him so she could have a baby.

When Bear, now seven, was born in 2017, Cheryl grew increasingly fed up that she was stuck at home with the baby while Liam was away jet-setting.

‘Liam was flying around the world promoting his music,’ said a friend. ‘He was in the zone Cheryl had been in ten years before with Girls Aloud. It led to some furious rows.

‘He began using private jets so he could get home quicker, but it wasn’t enough. Cheryl wanted a proper family unit and Liam just could not give it to her. Things got really bad and tempestuous. Liam was a young lad in his early 20s and he just wasn’t ready for it all.’

Inevitably, they split up – giving Liam even more time to ‘go off the rails’, as one former associate of the star describes it.

Even when they were co-parenting, Cheryl desperately hoped that Liam and Bear would develop a strong father-son bond, despite Liam’s addiction issues.

‘Cheryl knew what a state he was in,’ says a source. ‘She wished she could make it better.’

And she wasn’t alone in that wish: as Liam turned from being a cheerful teenager into a tormented, angry young man, many of those closest to him tried unsuccessfully to rescue him.

He was dropped by more than one of his managers due to his erratic behaviour and his failure to turn up to work engagements.

In September 2017, Cheryl, Liam and Bear went on a luxury holiday to Majorca: a birthday treat for Liam. But he injured himself while drunk.

As the years went on, he only got worse.

In 2022, a gurning Liam appeared to be high on drugs at a post-Oscars party in Hollywood. In footage that went viral for all the wrong reasons, he replaced his Wolverhampton twang with a bizarre Los Angeles accent.

One friend of Liam’s called me in horror to share their fears that he ‘really wasn’t OK’. Last year, Liam moved to a sprawling mansion near the Buckinghamshire town of Chalfont St Giles to be further away from the temptations of London and closer to Bear, who lived nearby with Cheryl.

However, neighbours tell me that he brought his problems with him. They would often spot him coming home in the early hours in chauffeur-driven cars, often with women in tow.

While I’m told he tried to see Bear regularly, his unpredictable lifestyle frequently made this impossible. Instead, Cheryl was largely left to bring up the little boy alone with the help of her mother Joan.

Liam’s new home was also close to a woman who some describe as his fairy godmother – the Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis.

Her husband Steve Finan worked with Liam for several years and the couple were at his side through some of his most difficult times – including his fall-out with Cheryl.

He would often stay at their home as they battled to keep him sober.

‘Liam adored Denise,’ says a source. ‘She mothered him and really tried to support him.’

Yet in recent months, his life was clearly spiralling out of control. His on-off girlfriend, Maya Henry, 23, had recently hired lawyers to send a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the star, accusing him of repeatedly contacting her and her loved ones.

Liam’s friends insisted he was angry and upset at her, adding that her behaviour was due to her wanting to publicise her new book.

And only last week, I’m told Liam had a huge row with his manager over his forthcoming album, whose release – to Liam’s fury – had been delayed because it was deemed ‘too poppy’.

A source said: ‘There was a blazing row and the album was put back again. The single from it had flopped and there were concerns. Liam desperately wanted that album to come out: despite everything, he thought of himself as a musician.’

To make matters even worse, just a few days ago Liam’s record label dropped him.

Another source said: ‘People begged him to get help and suggested that he went to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, but he wouldn’t take them up on it.’

His most recent girlfriend was Texan model Katie Cassidy, whom he thought might have been The One. She too had tried to help him, but left Argentina to return to the US two days before he died.

‘Lots of people cared for Liam,’ said a source. ‘He had so much love around him.’

Yet all the love in the world was not enough to rescue this desperately unhappy young man, who for all his fame and fortune could never escape the demons that haunted him from his lost, tormented youth.

www dailymail co uk/tvshowbiz/article-13972405/Liam-Paynes-childhood-trauma-having-baby-young-Cheryl-bring-stability-saved-KATIE-HIND html

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