Throwback Interview: Payne Reveals the Surprising Story Behind His Impulsive Tattoo Decision

In a throwback interview with GQ, singer Liam Payne opened up about one of his biggest regrets—a tattoo he now views as a lifelong mistake. Known for his hit “Teardrops,” Payne took fans through the stories behind his many tattoos, revealing his thought process for each. However, one tattoo in particular stands out to him as an unforgettable misstep.

Describing the tattoo experience, Payne confessed, “This is like my third or fourth tattoo. The story behind this one is that every time I’ve done this, I’ve probably been at least a little bit drunk or wavy in one way, shape, or form.” In this candid moment, Payne admitted that his decision to get inked was impulsive, stemming from a night of drinking, as reported by the Daily Star.

Recounting the incident, Payne shared that he walked into the tattoo shop without any specific design in mind. “I go into the tattoo shop and I thought: ‘I’m just gonna get something, whatever it is,’ so I start Googling random stuff,” he explained. He stumbled upon an idea that caught his eye, though perhaps not his long-term approval.

“I’m like: ‘Ah, that’d be cool,’ and the guy put me on the front desk, so I’m lying face down on the front desk of the shop, and then he put the design on but I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was too big,” Payne recalled with a laugh. The oversized tattoo was far from the subtle design he had envisioned, but in the moment, he hesitated to speak up.

Since then, the “Strip That Down” singer has looked into options to remove or alter the tattoo, even joking about Googling ways to get rid of it. In hindsight, he laughed about the reactions from his family, mentioning, “My father and sister were mad after seeing the tattoo, and even said: ‘I hope they’re bloody stickers!’”

At 31, Payne can look back on the experience with humor, acknowledging it as a youthful, albeit permanent, reminder of a night that got a bit out of hand. Fans appreciated his honesty and willingness to poke fun at his own choices, as he candidly admitted this tattoo is one he might choose differently today.