Since Liam Payne’s tragic passing last October, his ex-fiancée Maya Henry—who dated the singer from 2018 to 2022—has completely stayed under the radar. The model has avoided any social activity and interviews after facing online threats from fans who unfairly blamed her for Liam’s death.
The former One Direction star died after falling from a balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Liam reportedly had multiple drugs in his body at the time of death.
So why was Maya blamed for Liam’s death?
Just days before the tragedy, Maya posted videos claiming she was being harassed by Liam, and even sent him a cease and desist letter.
From accusing Liam of stalking her to saying he would “prey on fans” during their relationship, Maya’s shocking confessions encouraged a hate train towards the artist. She also touched upon her book, Looking Forward, which was inspired by their apparent toxic relationship.
Ironically, Maya was advised by a friend of Liam’s not to publish the book because the “whole world” would blame her if “something happen[ed]” to Liam… And that it did…
Following Liam’s tragic death, Maya was trolled by his fans, but she chose to remain silent and hasn’t spoken up until now…
Maya Opens Up About their Breakup and Liam’s Struggles
In a heartfelt written statement to Rolling Stone released this Tuesday (Feb 11), Maya finally broke her silence, opening up about Liam’s struggles with addiction, and their tumultuous relationship.
Maya Says the Drugs “Tore” Them Apart
Maya revealed that despite loving Liam “deeply,” “it was the drug use and addictions that tore them [us] apart.”
The 25-year-old model explained, “On drugs, he became someone unrecognizable—so different from his sober self. I kept hoping each incident would be a wake-up call for him to get help, but it never was.”
Recalling the turbulent times in their relationship, Maya confessed, “I put myself in situations that were unsafe and harmful, ignoring every red flag.” She continued, “I knew there were parts of himself he was struggling with — parts of his identity he wasn’t ready to fully face, even within our relationship.”
She Explains that she Had to Put Herself First
Henry also shared that, despite all the sacrifices she made, she ultimately had to put herself first and walk away:
“I tried to be there for him. I loved him so much that I convinced myself I could fix things…it wasn’t about me or anything I did. It was about struggles beyond my control. And in the end, I had to choose myself. I had to walk away, no matter how much it hurt, because staying in his world meant losing myself.”
Maya Comments on the Hurt Liam Caused Her
Touching upon the harassment she and her family faced after the breakup, Maya said, “While I loved him deeply, he did things that hurt me in ways I’ll never fully understand, and he continued to hurt me years after we broke up.”
Maya Doesn’t Resent Liam for His Struggles
“In the end, it wasn’t just the betrayals or the addictions that broke us — it was the realization that I had spent years in something that was never what I thought it was,” Maya wrote. The model then added, “I don’t fault him for his struggles.”
Sources Close to Liam Reveal New Details About His Relationship
Other than Maya’s revelations, additional reports about Liam surfaced in the Rolling Stone cover story. Sources told the outlet that Payne “struggled with his sexuality” and allegedly pressured Maya into having an abortion in 2020.
“Liam sent Maya a long message saying it’s either get an abortion and stay with him, or raise the kid alone and he will not acknowledge either of them. This was a surprise to Maya, because Liam wanted to have a family, and they were trying for a kid,” the insider said.
The source also claimed that Maya found out Liam was secretly sending inappropriate messages to other men—when he accidentally broadcasted the messages to their TV.
Netizens Rally Behind Maya on Social Media
Despite the wave of hate she’s received, many people have also taken to the internet to support Maya, praising her for having the courage to speak her truth.
Maybe empathy still exists in this world? Let us know your thoughts on Maya Henry’s statement in the comments below!
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