Charlie Puth Reveals How 'Brief' Friendship with Liam Payne Changed the Trajectory of His Career

Mar. 15, 2025

Charlie Puth in Los Angeles, California on April 13, 2024, Liam Payne in London, England on Dec. 5, 2022.Photo:Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Karwai Tang/WireImage

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Karwai Tang/WireImage

Charlie Puthis the latest star to share his connection toLiam Payneafter the singer’sdeathon Wednesday, Oct. 16.

At a BIC and iHeartMedia event in New York City on Oct. 22, the “See You Again” singer revealed his connection to the lateOne Directionmember and how a song changed the trajectory of his career.

“While thinking about Liam and his life this past week…I’ve been thinking about what my favorite song of his was during One Direction,” Puth, 32, said. “I realized that this song is how I met my main co-writer. His name is Jake and I write everything with him.”

“I remember hearing the song thinking, ‘Gosh, who wrote that? That is just the most beautiful song,'” Puth said, noting that Payne “opened up the song so beautifully.”

Before launching into aa rendition of the song, Puth remarked, “This is a song that means a lot to me, not because my main co-writer wrote it, but it’s how we started our relationship and how I got to know Liam for a very brief amount of time — a very, very impactful amount of time.”

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Puth would go on to help write Payne’s 2017 solo hit “Bedroom Floor.” After learning of his death, the “Light Switch” hitmaker took to hisInstagram Storiesand penned a short tribute to Payne,writing, “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he’s gone.”

He also shared an old photo of the two of them onon Instagram.

Paynedied on Wednesday, Oct. 16after falling from the balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old. Apartial autopsywas conducted, revealing the One Direction member had “multiple substances in his system” including “pink cocaine,” a substance that includes a combination of MDMA, methamphetamine and ketamine.

Payne’s body will remain in Argentina until the autopsy is completed.

source: people.com