“He was so misunderstood,” says former bandmate Liam Payne.

Almost a year later Liam PayneTragic death of his former bandmate Louis Tomlinson It sets the record straight regarding the public’s perception of him.

In the months leading up to his unfortunate fall from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Payne faced backlash following his comments about his time with his former band One Direction.

However, Tomlinson did not let the critics have the final say, choosing instead to ponder Bane’s true identity.

In a recent interview, Tomlinson said he felt it necessary to defend Payne’s reputation when he paid tribute to him the day after his death.

The statement wasn’t just to mourn his friend, it was to challenge an image that had been unfairly shaped after Payne’s 2022 appearance on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive podcast.”

At the time, Tomlinson wrote on his social media that Payne was the “most vital part” of the group, praising his amazing talents and experience.

Speaking about Payne’s character, the former ‘X Factor’ judge recently said Rolling Stone That people who really knew Payne understood that the criticism he faced was unfair, as he only had pure intentions but was unable to communicate them effectively.

When asked what fans might not know about Payne, Lewis described him as “a very misunderstood person, from a general perspective.”

For the “Just Hold On” hitmaker, most of the criticism or judgment directed at Payne’s actions was misplaced. “If there’s any judgment on his character, I think nine times out of 10, you can think of that, and the reflection is that he was someone who just wanted to be liked,” he said.

The “Back to You” singer continued to reflect on how the group celebrated their 15th anniversary earlier this year, but found it particularly painful because it was their first without Payne.

He explained that usually, during past anniversaries, he would feel a sense of nostalgia surrounding the band, but this time, it felt completely different. This event triggered deep feelings of sadness, frustration and a feeling of injustice that Liam was no longer alive to share this with.

Tomlinson admitted that dealing with the loss had been very difficult, even though he had faced grief before, saying nothing could prepare him for losing a close friend. “I’ve never lost a friend before,” he said.

Payne’s departure hit not only Tomlinson hard, but the entire group. As reported ExplosionThe tragedy has brought them closer together.

After years of staying apart and only speaking occasionally since their 2016 hiatus, the members have begun checking in on each other more frequently, rebuilding their bonds and becoming stronger as friends.

A reunion performance was already under discussion, and despite the heartbreaking loss, they still plan to go ahead with it, this time with a renewed goal of honoring Payne’s memory.

Meanwhile, the late 31-year-old left behind an estate worth £28.5 million, but did not leave a will. His ex-partner Cheryl Tweedy and their son Bear are expected to inherit the fortune, while it remains unclear whether his girlfriend Kate Cassidy will get anything.

according to ExplosionCourt documents show Tweedie was given legal authority to administer the estate, which was later reduced to £24.28 million after debts and expenses were settled.