Louis Tomlinson vows to “forever despise” Logan Paul amid Liam Payne interview fallout

21 October 2025

Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction in 2014. Ethan Miller/Getty

In a candid and emotionally charged interview with The Independent published on October 18, former Louis Tomlinson laid bare his anger toward YouTuber Logan Paul, saying he will “forever despise” him for the 2022 podcast episode in which the late Liam Payne appeared and made divisive remarks about his former bandmates in One Direction.

The podcast, which took place on Paul’s show Impaulsive, featured Payne discussing his time in the boy band claiming that founder Simon Cowell had built One Direction around him, and using harsh language about fellow member Zayn Malik. Tomlinson said the interview was irresponsible and harmful, singling out Logan Paul’s role in staging it. In his own words: “I ××××ing forever despise Logan Paul… horrible, horrible little f×××er.”

Tomlinson says the episode represents what he sees as a broader problem with modern media and influencer-led content. He questioned whether the interviewer gave any duty of care when inviting Payne who was dealing with personal challenges at the time into what turned out to be a public spectacle of raw emotion. “I think that’s also the problem with some of this new ‘media’,” Tomlinson said. “I’d like to think most journalists… some journalists have a duty of care.”

For fans and observers of One Direction, the comments reopen a chapter of the band’s story they believed had been closed. Payne’s remarks in 2022 were widely criticised and led to a wave of backlash. In July 2023, Payne issued a public apology, calling his outburst “a big ‘L’ and not the Liam kind,” admitting he made the comments during a turbulent time when he felt frustrated and angry.

Tragically, Liam Payne died on October 16 2024, after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires at the age of 31. His death has cast a long shadow over every new development linked to him his bandmates have repeatedly expressed how deeply the loss shook them.

Tomlinson revealed that Payne had been the most vocal proponent of a One Direction reunion and that his passing effectively put a pin in those hopes. He recalled that Payne was ready, willing, and pushing for the band to come back together something the remaining members may never now realise.

In discussing Tomlinson’s stance, it’s clear this is not just about one interview. The singer referenced his own long journey through grief having lost his sister and mother previously and underscored how he felt Payne’s support during previous struggles. Now, he said, seeing Payne subject to what he called a “media trap” was far harder to tolerate. He regards Payne’s appearance on that podcast as exploited, rather than engaged.

Beyond interpersonal tensions the episode spotlights evolving questions around influencer-driven content, online interviews and the ethics of viral moments. Tomlinson’s claim that Paul failed to protect his guest echoes broader conversations about media responsibility in spaces outside traditional journalism. His critique pushes the spotlight into how social-media platforms and personalities manage guests and the real consequences of sensationalised discourse.

Logan Paul has not publicly responded to Tomlinson’s comments or the renewed criticism this week. Representatives for both Tomlinson and Paul did not immediately return requests for comment.

As the story continues to unfold, fans and industry watchers will likely consider how legacy bands and their members manage public narratives years after peak stardom. The tension between transparency, accountability and legacy looms large especially when losses, losses of membership, identity and time, are involved. For Tomlinson, this is an opportunity to defend the memory of a friend and colleague and to critique a media culture he now views with suspicion.