'I tried to call': Liam Payne's cousin reflects on his death

Liam Payne's cousin Ross Harris told ITV's Good Morning Britain he missed a phone call from the singer on the day Payne died in October 2024, and tried to call back too late. Harris said Payne "didn't feel very loved" despite global fame and had the mental age of a child after finding stardom at 16.

Harris, who is also a musician, spoke about the former One Direction star's death in an interview aired Thursday, August 27, 2026. Payne was 31 when he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The conversation has reignited debate about the toll of early fame.

Key Takeaways

• Ross Harris missed a call from Liam Payne hours before the singer's death and said trying to reach him back is a regret that will "live with me forever."
• Harris said Payne "didn't feel very loved" — fans adored Liam Payne the superstar, but he needed people who loved Liam the person.
• The cousin said Payne's mental development stopped around age 16, when One Direction was formed on The X Factor.
• Harris had drafted texts urging friends to check on Payne but did not send them, believing there was more time.
• He released a charity single through The Bones Fund to honor Payne and support causes close to the singer.

What did Liam Payne's cousin say about the missed call?

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Harris recalled that he was in a writing session when Payne called. His phone was down, and he only noticed the missed call a few hours later.

"I was in a writing session. And I think my phone was just down, so I missed it," Harris told the programme, according to The Independent. "We finished and I called him and I think it was already too late."

Harris described the moment as something he keeps trying to process. "It's going to be a regret that lives with me forever," he said. AOL reported that Harris also tried to return the call, saying: "I tried to call him but I think he was already gone by that point."

Why did Ross Harris say Liam Payne 'didn't feel very loved'?

Harris told the morning show that fame created a painful gap between public adoration and personal connection. "He didn't feel very loved, which is ironic for a superstar because he has a million people plus who love him — but they love Liam Payne," he said. "He needs someone to love Liam, if that makes sense."

Before Payne's death, Harris planned to message acquaintances asking them to spend time with the singer. He drafted texts reading, "Give Liam a call and say hi. He misses you, he wonders how you are and it would be nice for him to hear from you," but never sent them because he thought they had more time.

He had hoped to rally support ahead of a planned reunion in Miami. For more on celebrity deaths and tributes, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.

What did Harris reveal about Liam Payne's mental age?

Harris said Payne remained emotionally young long after achieving worldwide success. "Even though he was in his 30s, he was still basically a kid," he told Good Morning Britain. "He didn't get to grow up like a normal person."

Payne joined One Direction on ITV's The X Factor in 2010 alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Harris noted that Payne held onto childhood memories while others in the family moved on with ordinary lives.

Payne had spoken openly about substance abuse and the pressures of global fame as a teenager. A toxicology report after his death found alcohol, cocaine and Klonopin in his system, according to AOL.

What happens next after Harris's interview?

Harris appeared on Good Morning Britain partly to promote a charity track released in Payne's memory through The Bones Fund. He argued that when an artist's image generates profit, those who profit share responsibility for the person's wellbeing.

In February 2025, an Argentine court dropped criminal negligence charges against three of five people charged in connection with Payne's death. The full interview aired on the August 27 edition of Good Morning Britain on ITV.