Liam Payne reveals people tormented him and yelled ‘X Factor reject’ in McDonald’s after he was kicked off the show
LIAM Payne has opened up about the torment he endured after being rejected by The X Factor the first time he applied.
The singer, who went on to global success in One Direction, failed to make it through to the live shows in 2008 and said he felt humiliated until he was put in the group two years later.
He said: “From the age of 14 I’d been living a semi-famous lifestyle. Just at that moment I didn’t have any of the things that came with it for those two years.
“I went through two years of doing gigs and things by myself. Then after two years of doing that, people around realise that you haven’t got anywhere with your life and it became very sordid and very angry.
“People would ridicule me in the street and all sorts when I was, like, 15 or 16. I once went in McDonald’s when I was turning 16 and I went up to order my thing, went to sit down with the girl I was with at the time and a group of lads at the top of the stairs were like, ‘X Factor reject!’
“Then the whole restaurant was looking at me. It was a really hollow moment, that was like, ‘Oh right, now I know what it’s like to lose fame’.”
On Jordan Stephens' Spotify exclusive podcast Killing It, out today, Liam also revealed he believes that not getting enough sleep was what caused the group to split in 2015.
He added: “We all just got on with it, you know, it was just a case of this is your job and this is what you do and then you just slowly spiralled into this thing. I mean, more than anything for us, I think the danger zone is in the band. And actually what probably caused the demise of it, towards the end, was just the tiredness more than anything. Everyone makes stupid decisions when they’re tired.”
Liam told me last week in this column that 1D were planning a special project to mark their tenth anniversary in July. And now fans believe that Zayn Malik, who quit in 2015, will also be involved.
Yesterday the band’s profile on Apple Music was updated to feature an image of all five members — including Zayn. The world could use some more 1D right now.
bizmeter
BEER 52 is organising the UK’s first cyber beer festival, this coming Friday and Saturday. Cyber Fest will include tastings with expert Richard Croasdale, and a ticket gets you a case of beer to enjoy during the event. Count me in.
Duo are ready for action
THEIR new single is called I’m Ready – and Sam Smith and Demi Lovato certainly look the part.
The pair dressed as athletes wearing gold medals to promote the track, which will be released on Friday.
Sam and Demi teased fans about working together back in February, with a mannequin named after Demi in Sam’s pop-up shop in London.
And this week they dropped a number of big hints, including a sweet picture of them cuddling in a studio during the recording session.
I’m predicting a big pop banger from these two.
Bring on Friday.
bizmeter
STAR Wars actor John Boyega is desperate to find love. He told Sorted Magazine: “My mum and dad have been together for 25 years. It’s nice to survive with your companion by your side but I’ve never experienced it.”
Almost made an Example of
EXAMPLE has revealed Ed Sheeran's dad threatened to punch him in the face when he started playing up backstage at a gig. The rapper, real name Elliot Gleave, explained how John Sheeran stopped in the nick of time and instead gave him a warning about his behaviour.
Example said: “Ed’s dad used to be a boxer. I’ve met him loads over the years. I was being a bit cocky backstage once and he went, ‘Elliot, stand there’. And he put his fist up to my nose. He did like a full whack and stopped his fist like a millimetre from my nose, then he gave me a hug. It was his way of saying, ‘Don’t be a lippy little t**t’.”
Example, who is set to put out his seventh album, also revealed he had started thinking about the rider for backstage during his next tour. And he said he would choose crisps over booze this time around.
He added: “The riders used to be crazy when it was me and the band. We’d have six or seven crew. But now it’s just six of us doing this tour. So the rider just has Monster Munch on it. It’ll just say 24 packs of Monster Munch. Flamin’ Hot are my top flavour, Roast Beef second and Pickled Onion third.”
Each to their own, El.
No head says Ed
RADIOHEAD guitarist Ed O'Brien is feeling the pressure ahead of his first solo album Earth, out on Friday. Ed, whose band mates Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Philip Selway have all done solo work, said: “The last thing any-body needs is a s**t album from somebody in Radiohead.
“I didn’t feel pressured just because Thom, Philip and Jonny were doing it. I think when you turn 50 something happens. I don’t feel 50 – I feel better than I did when I was 25 – but I’m this number and crikey, there’s so much stuff I want to do.”
And he ruled out any Radiohead projects soon, telling Q Magazine: “Every body’s enjoy- ing doing their thing. Johnny Marr told me a brilliant story about when The Smiths split up. He was
seeking Paul McCartney's advice, expecting some very deep reply. And McCartney goes, ‘That’s bands for you’. And it is!”
bizmeter
PHARRELL gave thanks after Happy was named the Most Played Song of the decade on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. He said: “Thank you, it is humbling . . . I always want people to hear my songs, people that really need it.”
Music to our ears, Meg
THEY say never put all your eggs in one basket – and Megan McKenna has taken the advice to heart.
The Essex native, who put on her best bunny ears to celebrate Easter weekend, found fame on reality TV show Towie before revealing her real passion was music. And I’m telling you, this woman can sing.
After her debut single High Heeled Shoes went straight to the No1 spot on iTunes, Megan went on to open for Michael Buble at BST in Hyde Park before doing her own nationwide tour. She then won The X Factor: Celebrity last autumn and is now working on a follow-up album to 2018 release Story Of Me.
An insider said: “Megan’s been writing new material and is looking forward to getting back into the studio this year. It’s a really exciting time for her and she can’t wait to put out new music as soon as possible.”
I’m looking forward to hearing it.
instaglam
'Perfection'
CUBAN stunner Ana De Armas says she didn’t think she was attractive enough to play CIA agent Paloma in upcoming 007 film No Time To Die, even though her name was put forward by Daniel Craig himself.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
She said: “Bond girls have been portrayed for so many years with a specific type of woman. I associate it with some sort of perfection and beauty standards beyond the normal, things that I didn’t match.”
Ana’s character was written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was hired by director Cary Fukunaga to update Bond. Ana said it was her writing that sealed the deal for her.
She told airline mag American Way: “You could tell Phoebe was in there. There was that humour and spikiness specific to her. My character is like a real woman.”
bizmeter
- DUA Lipa has started thinking about her third album, just weeks after releasing her second, Future Nostalgia. She said: “I was meant to go on tour at the end of April, which got postponed, so I will start thinking about my third album sooner rather than later. I’ll probably have a time to go to the studio.”
- ROCHELLE and Marvin Humes said their eldest daughter Alaia-Mai cried “happy tears” when they told her they were expecting their third baby. Ex-Saturdays star Rochelle said on This Morning: “My eldest cried happy tears. My youngest thought her mum had a chocolate egg in her belly.”
- KATY Perry says filming for American Idol is still going ahead. The Never Worn White singer, who is expecting her first baby with fiancé Orlando Bloom, told her fans: “We’re going to have to be very creative. You’ll have to tune into what we are going to create from our homes.”
- KHLOE Kardashian splashed out on cakes, hundreds of balloons and stacks of expensive presents for daughter True’s second birthday. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared snaps of the tot marking her big day, alongside Khloe’s love rat ex Tristan Thompson.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]