Before K-pop, it was One Direction for me
How the British boy band played a role in my life and career
(One Direction during a concert in Toronto back in 2012)
This newsletter usually shines a light on K-pop and Asian artists. But to be frank, I owe a lot of my writing to One Direction.
On Wednesday, my newsrooms received tips that ex-One Direction member Liam Payne had died after falling from a third floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Like many, my initial reaction was shock and denial. But within minutes, alerts from major news stations confirmed that it was true. Liam Payne had died at the age of 31.
As the moment settled in, I started receiving text messages from many people reacting to the news. Some were former colleagues who knew of my love of One Direction. But most others, were close friends I made through the band checking in.
Like millions of other fans, I mourned the loss of Liam. I know it sounds dramatic. But that day, I felt a significant part of my youth had left.
I discovered the British boy band in my second year of university in 2011.
Right after the boys—Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson—placed third on X Factor in 2010, they were pretty much everywhere. In September 2011, One Direction released their first single “What Makes You Beautiful”. It didn’t take me long to fall into the rabbit hole.
One Direction’s adorable looks, hilarious personalities and catchy tunes had me sold. I started calling myself a Directioner, even if it felt a bit silly to fangirl at 19 years old.
I often talk about the friendship and community that comes with fandom. One Direction was no different.
(Me at a One Direction concert. With the only piece of merch I was willing to buy…a cup)
I bought the band’s albums and attended fan pop-ups. I streamed their music videos and watched television performances. I’ve seen them twice in concert, and have continued to follow each of their solo careers since One Direction went their separate ways in 2016.
One Direction was a source of comfort for me at a time when I was growing into young adulthood. They accompanied me during study sessions, my walks to class and during times of stress.
The members of One Direction are about the same age as me, so it felt just like growing up alongside them.
Most of all, I wouldn’t really have a career in journalism without One Direction. My first writing job was at a now-defunct pop culture website called ANDPOP. At the time, the stories that got the most hits were about Justin Bieber and One Direction. With my knowledge as a fan, it helped me land pitches and eventually score some interviews. The biggest one was Ed Sheeran, who wrote many One Direction hits like “Little Things”, “Moments”, “18” and “Over Again.”
I cringe at this video below, but it remains a major highlight.
One Direction also gave me a direct understanding of the power of fandom, and how quickly supporters will go out of their way to boost their favourite band.
I owe a lot to One Direction, both personally and professionally. That’s why the news and circumstances of Liam’s death are truly devastating.
In the early days of 1D, Liam would often go live on Twitter, spending time talking to his fans in his hotel room while touring the world. My friends and I would watch enthusiastically. He’d show us what he would order for room service, he’d make jokes and tell us what he’s been up to. It’s not unlike what you see with K-pop idols today on Weverse Live. But through those livestreams, we got to know Liam more personally. He felt like a friend.
Liam was not the most popular member of One Direction, though his passion and love for the music and his fellow members was clear.
In recent years, as members of One Direction found their footing and individual successes as solo artists, Liam was the one who clearly struggled the most. He has been open with his experiences with substance abuse. His solo music was largely panned. Many also criticized him for being ungrateful after he aired grievances about One Direction during an interview with Logan Paul. Liam eventually apologized for his comments, saying his words “was just a scramble to stay relevant.”
Liam was also on the receiving end of backlash on social media in the weeks before his death, after his ex-girlfriend Maya Henry shared stories of their relationship together. Before Liam’s death, he was also embroiled in a legal fight over his constant communication with Maya and her family. To be clear, Maya has a right to share her truth, and she doesn’t deserve the amount of hateful comments coming her way either in the wake of Liam’s death.
Liam was no doubt a man with flaws, and I’d be lying to say I didn’t judge his past comments and behaviour. But the ways in which tabloids and media outlets have handled his death have been horrific, especially when you see that he was clearly a man with complexities and inner demons.
His ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole, with whom Liam shares a seven-year-old son with, said it best: “Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last."
Like many fans who had long hoped for a One Direction reunion one day, I think it is heartbreaking to know that this band will never be the same. However, seeing Liam’s former members—Harry, Niall, Louis and Zayn—paying tribute to Liam has given many comfort to see them unified through this loss.
Liam was someone who had his flaws. But today I will choose to remember him as 1/5th of a group who gave me so much joy during my youth. In the last few days, I revisited 1D’s discography and am left thinking about what Liam sang in “History,” the band’s final single together.
“You and me, got a whole lot of history. So don't let it go, we can make some more. We can live forever.”
While I never knew him personally, it was clear Liam was someone who lived to make his supporters happy.
May his legacy continue to live on.
What I’ve been reading lately:
I Owe One Direction Everything. Liam Payne’s Death Means Mourning My Memories - So much of what Larisha Paul wrote resonated with me.
Who Needs Critics When You Have Influencers? - Following TIFF’s partnership with TikTok, I have been thinking about the role film critics play in today’s media sphere, and whether they are losing relevancy to content creators. It’s certainly a grim thought.
Who protects K-pop stars? - Tamar Herman shares thoughts on how the K-pop industry needs to do better by its artists based on the hellish year 2024 has been. At a time when a number of K-pop businesses are boycotting RIIZE following the departure of Seunghan, one wonders whether this will mark a turning point in the industry.
See me elsewhere
In happier news, j-hope has been discharged from the military!
I recently spoke to his hometown dance crew Neuron about j-hope’s early beginnings, and how they remain an inspiration for the BTS member’s songs like “Chicken Noodle Soup.”
Check out my interview with NEURON for Joysauce!
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Accountability is important to me, so please address corrections and concerns by sending me an email at bunnipopnewsletter@gmail.com. Continue the conversation by following bunni pop on Instagram and Threads.
Loved this :( I always tell people that the 1D to K-pop pipeline is SO real! I would be nothing in a fandom space without the community I made as a Directioner when I was growing up.
Honestly, I've been trying to process the way I've been swinging between heartbreak and also total neutrality about Liam's death in the days since, especially as I watched the social media heat he was taking start to grow. I don't agree with plenty of his actions and his alleged victims have the right to feel whatever they feel without having their experiences diminished either. But the way the media has been exploiting him hasn't been sitting right with me at all. Between the horrific way TMZ broke the news, to the media releasing details about the last few days of his life...it has been making me feel physically ill to read. It's as if he wasn't a human at all.