(NewsNation) — Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson isn’t mincing words when it comes to Logan Paul over a past interview involving the late Liam Payne.
In an interview with the Independent, Tomlinson called out Paul for being a “horrible” person.
“I f—— forever despise [Logan Paul], horrible, horrible little f—–,” Tomlinson said, calling out Paul as a media personality.
“I think that’s also the problem with some of this new ‘media.’ … I would like to think most journalists, some journalists have a duty of care,” he told the Independent.
Liam Payne details One Direction drama with Logan Paul
Payne was a guest on Paul’s “Impaulsive” show in May 2022 and sparked controversy for revealing details from his time as a member of “One Direction,” including that he and Tomlinson “hated each other” during the height of the band’s popularity and that one of his bandmates threw him up against a wall, according to Us Weekly.
Payne also claimed that he was in effect the leader of the band, something that Tomlinson agreed with.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Logan Paul attends the Undisputed & Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Championship at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/TKO Worldwide LLC via Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 04: Recording artists Liam Payne (L) and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FMs Jingle Ball 2015 Presented by Capital One at STAPLES CENTER on December 4, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) 
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 23: (L-R) Recording artists Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik of One Direction accept the Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group award onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
“It was, definitely,” he said. “It was definitely a role that was assigned to him. That is the truth.”
Following the interview, Payne issued apologies to his former bandmates, including Zayn Malik, whom he called a “d—” on the podcast.
“Listening back maybe I didn’t articulate myself as well as I could have. I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on but that I will always, always be on his side,” he said. “That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.”
In March 2023, he also wrote to Tomlinson, admitting he was “out of [his] mind” on alcohol while on the podcast, according to Us Weekly.
“I feel ashamed in those moments to not be as good of a friend as you have been to me,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “At least I have time now and I’m me again so will try and make amends.”
Liam Payne fell off hotel balcony in Argentina
Payne died October 2024 in Argentina after he fell from the third floor of the CasaSur Hotel in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.
According to a UK medical examiner, the “What Makes You Beautiful” singer died from polytrauma, which occurs when a person experiences injuries to multiple body parts and organ systems.