Liam Payne reads out heartbreaking letter he wrote 10-year-old self

Liam Payne’s reflective letter of hope to his 10-year-old self has emerged after his death.

Liam Payne’s reflective letter of hope to his 10-year-old self has emerged after his death.

The former One Direction singer, who died Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, revealed in the note he’d, at one point, “feel like giving up.”

Payne had been candid about his mental health battle in recent years, saying he struggled to find purpose after the British band went their separate ways in 2015.

In 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Payne featured on BBC Radio 1 where he shared the note he had written for his younger self, outlining the highs and lows of a career which saw him form part of one of the best-selling boy groups of all time.

“Get Ready, it’s about to get a little bumpy,” he wrote.

“Cherish every moment with your loved ones right now, as there’s only a few more family holidays to enjoy, life is about to turn surreal.

“You know that thing you love, singing, keep it up, when you turn 14, something magical is going to happen, and I’m not talking about puberty.

“Not only will you audition for one of the biggest music shows in the world, but you’ll also meet the future mother of your child.”

Payne wrote a letter to his 10-year-old self back in 2020.

Liam Payne's letter to his 10-year-old self.

Payne is father to a seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with UK singer Cheryl Cole. The pair met when Payne auditioned for The X Factor, which Cole was a judge on.

“I know it seems early, but just trust me, it’s all going to work out however it’s supposed to. I suggest you watch Back To The Future, it might help,” he continued in the letter.

“You are now famous, and it feels like you’ve peaked way too early, you cocky little bugger, but you barely even started yet, take it down a notch, and remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

“Let me tell you this isn’t even base camp, and for a while, you’ll feel like giving up, but don’t as you’re about to meet four of the guys on the same track as you.

“When you first meet them, it’s going to be chaos, but just remember to enjoy yourself, stay young at heart as that’s what this point in your life is all about.”

Cheryl and Liam Payne share a son. Picture: ohn Phillips/Getty Images

The singer had first auditioned as a solo act for the UK reality series in 2008.

He returned to audition for the franchise in 2010, when he was paired with then-unknown UK singers Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.

“Forgive more and learn to listen, you’ll have the most amazing time of your life, travel the world and live a life you barely imagined,” Payne went on in his letter.

“Then it will end for a while, and you will be left with nothing but the steering wheel. It will feel scary, like you’re alone, but you are not,” he added, referencing the band’s separation in 2015.

“You’re about to start a total new journey with the most amazing person you met so far, your son Bear.

“Be grateful and try to remember every day you’re doing something you love, that took 10 years to build.

“The first single will skyrocket and you’ll never see it coming, you’ll stop with the self doubt and you’ll be fine.

“Give mum, dad, and all the family, a big hug from me.”

Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Payne revealed last year he had secretly spent 100 days in a wellness clinic in the US after hitting rock bottom in 2022.

In a video posted to his official YouTube account, which was shared in July last year, Payne confirmed he was six months sober.

“There is a point when you hit rock bottom and you realise you have got to do something different as whatever you are doing right now isn’t working for you,” Payne said at the time.

“I was in bad shape up until that point.

“Honestly, more than anything I want to say thank you to Bear and his mum for giving me a little bit of freedom to go and get well.

“I feel like I have a grip on life now. After I got back out, that process had worked for me, but there were still some little bits left that I kind of had to deal with myself.”

Originally published as Liam Payne reads out heartbreaking letter he wrote 10-year-old self