Perrie Edwards Reflects on ‘Heartbreaking’ Loss of Liam Payne: ‘My Heart Hurts for His Family and Friends’

Perrie Edwards recently opened up about the heartbreaking loss of former One Direction star Liam Payne, who passed away suddenly on October 16. In a newly released episode of the Happy Place podcast, recorded the day after Payne’s death, Edwards expressed her sorrow and disbelief over the news, sharing her feelings with podcast host Fearne Cotton.

“I think it feels weird. It’s just so sad and heartbreaking, and my heart hurts for his family and friends, Cheryl, his little boy,” Edwards said, offering her condolences to Payne’s loved ones, according to the Mirror. Edwards, a member of the girl group Little Mix, had a connection to Payne through her former relationship with his One Direction bandmate, Zayn Malik, whom she dated from 2011 to 2015.

Reflecting on the shared experiences and parallel careers that aligned One Direction and Little Mix, Edwards shared how deeply the loss affected her and her bandmates. “It’s devastating. I can’t imagine how they must be feeling now. I don’t think it was real when I read it, it’s in the air, and everyone can feel it,” she continued, noting that her bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock described the news as “very close to home.”

Little Mix and One Direction have a shared history dating back to The X Factor, where both groups found fame. Edwards went on to form Little Mix with Leigh-Anne, Jade Thirlwall, and Jesy Nelson in 2011, a year after Payne joined One Direction alongside Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson in 2010. “Our careers were very aligned; we had a close relationship with them. It’s honestly so sad, it made my body feel so weird when I saw the headline,” Edwards, 31, added, remembering the strong connection forged between the two groups during their early years in the industry.

For Edwards and her fellow band members, Payne’s sudden passing serves as a sobering reminder of the pressures that come with fame and the bonds formed through shared experiences. Her reflections bring a poignant, personal perspective to the tragedy, underscoring the close-knit relationships between artists who rise to stardom together.

Edwards’ heartfelt remarks offer a glimpse into the impact Payne had on those around him, and she expressed a deep empathy for his family and loved ones, including his former partner Cheryl and his young son.