One Direction singer Liam Payne was very open about his addiction and spent time in rehab just weeks before his death as he tried to overcome his struggles

Liam Payne has been described as a “fragile young man” following his struggles with drug addiction.

The One Direction star, who died in October after falling from his hotel balcony, was very open about his fight with addiction and even spent time in rehab in a bid to overcome his issues. Liam is believed to have checked into rehab just months before his death as he wanted to “get his life on track.”

Sadly, he left the clinic after just 48 hours. The Strip That Down hitmaker had also been taking drugs in the hours before his death. Addiction expert Dr Drew Pinsky has now spoken out about Liam’s struggles.

 

“This was a very fragile young man that was really way too over his head,” he said in the new documentary TMZ Investigates: Liam Payne: Who’s to Blame?.

White residue and drug paraphernalia were found inside of Liam Payne’s hotel room

The documentary also featured an interview with waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, who met Liam two nights before his death. The 24-year-old said they had been drinking whiskey and taking cocaine together in those days.

“They say I’m the dealer, that I carry drugs, that I sold them and the truth is that no, no I didn’t sell them,” he insisted. On the first night, Braian said there was cocaine but insisted there “wasn’t even a lot of it.”

He added, “The second night too. The soap box and some aluminum foil was already there – drugs scattered everywhere.” Liam had opened up about his addiction before his death.

Speaking on his YouTube channel back in 2023, the musician said he had spent 100 days in rehab and had “more of a grip on life and everything that was getting away from me.” He also admitted he had become someone he didn’t recognize before checking into the facility.

Dr Drew Pinsky shared his thoughts ( Image: drdrewpinsky/Instagram)

Liam struggled with addiction ( Image: Getty Images)

“I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognize anymore and I’m sure you guys didn’t either,” he said. “I was in bad shape up until that point and I was really happy to kind of put a stopper to life and work.”

It’s believed Liam went back to rehab in late July, checking into The Priory. However, he’s said to have left the 28-day Addiction Therapy Program after just two days.

“He gave it a go at overcoming his addictions once and for all. He really wanted to get his life on track,” a source told The Sun. “All his loved ones were rooting for him.”

The source added, “He bravely sought help but couldn’t stay the course.” They concluded, “There is some solace in his loved ones knowing he was aware how much everyone was rooting for him.”