We are allowed to mourn the celebrities we look up to; it means we have a meaningful connection with them, human to human, even if they don’t know who we are. We grow up with some of these people, and when they pass away, especially suddenly, it can be difficult and emotional to process. It’s okay to feel sad and grieve the loss of your idol as long as we remain respectful.
Grieving an artist comes in multiple forms: listening to their music, making tributes or reconnecting with other fans. Most people do this as a way to honor and remember their idol in the hours and days after, which is typically seen as normal. What might not be seen as “normal” is going to public spaces or significant areas associated with an artist to make small memorials and vigils. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that method of grieving; it’s a safe space for fans who need it. Times like these are rough for most fans, and the grief that we share is a collective feeling. Why would it be a bad thing to have a space where fans can pay their respects to one another? We share the same memories and support for our idol, and it also gives a chance for a human connection and friendship to form at these memorials.
Former One Direction band member Liam Payne died on Oct. 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For fans, Payne was more than a celebrity. Because of the strong connection many feel toward Payne, hundreds of memorials have been set up around the world to honor his memory, from New York City to London. Establishing these memorials is a way to show the outpouring of love and support they have always felt and will continue to feel for him. Videos on social media show users leaving heartfelt notes, singing songs together and making new friends at these memorials. As such, fans have acknowledged that this is not only a sensitive time for them, but for his family as well. In the days after his passing, Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, was protected by fans who raised their hands to prevent the paparazzi from taking pictures of him in the hotel. Geoff also took time to add to the fan memorial that was established outside the hotel before mourning with fans and expressing thanks for their support.
One Direction fans, also known as Directioners, are well aware of the way the industry operates with teenage stars, especially for a boy band that was as big as One Direction. Over the years, many agree that the five members were overworked, controlled and taken advantage of. For that reason, during the height of the band’s popularity, fans always sought to protect them from the pressures of fame. This desire to “protect” continues even after Payne’s passing, as fans have expressed that it is disrespectful to visit his family home, harass the members of One Direction, or attempt to attend any private funerals.
Just recently, producer Sam Pounds made an announcement stating he would release “Do No Wrong,” an unreleased single he recorded in collaboration with Payne as a tribute. Fans asked Pounds not to release the song out of respect for Payne’s family while encouraging others not to stream it. Their concern reached Pounds, who ultimately decided to delay the release of Payne’s posthumous single and leave it up to his family. But above all fan’s concerns, Simon Cowell, who is credited with creating One Direction, is their biggest gripe. Fans call out Cowell continuously, criticizing him for putting the five boys in vulnerable positions in the entertainment industry. This is not a problem unique to Payne; it is a problem with many stars who get famous at a young age. In light of his passing, the damaging effects of fame at such a young age are becoming more and more apparent. “Liam’s Law” is a fan-written petition circulating amongst fans, advocating for legislation to be made where artists must receive support and treatment to protect their mental health. The petition is in honor of Payne, who was outspoken about mental health struggles during and after his time in One Direction.
Some online reactions showed a lack of empathy over his passing. Given the news that came out days before regarding a cease and desist from his ex-fiancée Maya Henry, many felt that his passing was not something to be upset about. Multiple posts went viral on social media, stating that it wasn’t right to grieve Payne because of his past faults. Considering he was the subject of massive online harassment in the last couple of years, his passing only fueled more online harassment and indifference disguised as jokes. Two things can be true at once: Payne was not a perfect person, and Payne also made a significant impact on many young people. I think the acknowledging of both of these things is a part of grief, perhaps the most complicated part of it. People seem to forget that he was a person, too, with real feelings and personal relationships. Payne was someone’s father, son, uncle, brother, partner, friend and role model. No one should be able to dictate how another person should feel when they are grieving over a personal loss, fan or not.
For Directioners, Payne’s passing is an opportunity to come together in remembrance. Users of online fandom spaces that were previously left abandoned have reunited to share their grief and reflect on the fond memories they once shared as fans. The reunion and outpouring of support for a beloved member of a group that created so many great memories is the most beautiful result of it all.
Samantha Diaz, FCRH ’26, is a journalism major from the Bronx, N.Y.
