Liam Payne has revealed Zayn Malik’s mother Tricia forced him to audition for The X Factor and he didn’t want to try out for the show himself.
The pair both found fame as members of One Direction but Liam, 26, admitted he doesn’t think Zayn, 27, enjoys the fame that comes with a successful music career.
Speaking to the Daily Star Online, he said: ‘I remember Zayn telling us the story that it was his mum got him to go to the audition the day he didn’t want to go and that was literally what we saw all the way through One Direction.’
Interview: Liam Payne, 26, has revealed Zayn Malik’s mother Tricia forced him to audition for The X Factor and he didn’t want to try out for the show himself (pictured in February 2020)
During the height of their fame with One Direction, Liam admitted that he, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson realised Zayn wasn’t always happy in the group.
He said: ‘We always kind of knew that there were moments when One Direction was really Zayn and then there were moments when it really wasn’t.’
Liam added that many people who audition for shows like The X Factor are teenagers and often just want to impress people they know without knowing what they really want to do in life.
The Strip That Down star insisted that while Zayn, who has struggled with anxiety, loves making music, he doesn’t like to perform.
Liam said: ‘I remember Zayn telling us the story that it was his mum got him to go to the audition the day he didn’t want to go’ (pictured with mother Tricia Brannan Malik in April 2015)
Fans got their hopes up that One Direction could be set for a 10-year anniversary reunion soon when the other members re-followed Zayn on Twitter.
However, Liam insisted hopes for all five members of the boy band getting back together are somewhat ‘pre-mature’, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: ‘I think it is a bit premature [to think us re-following Zayn means he’s back]. Look at it this the way, every time one of us releases an album it is another two years and now with this [coronavirus] on top of it everyone has had to backlog tours almost and cancel things.’
It comes after Liam recently hinted that Zayn would not be involved in the rumoured One Direction reunion.
Past: During the height of their fame with One Direction, Liam admitted that he and the other members realised Zayn wasn’t always happy in the group (pictured in June 2012)
The pop star took to Instagram to have a live chat with DJ Alesso on Sunday night – and asked him if he’d like to join the band in Zayn’s place.
‘Most of us are in London. We’ve been trying to arrange the first group FaceTime at the moment,’ Liam explained, adding: ‘You can come and fill in for Zayn. Join the band!’
This seemed to confirm that Zayn – who quit the band in 2015 – won’t be taking part, despite fans speculating that he would be.
Last week Liam confirmed he has been ‘speaking’ to his band mates again ahead of their 10-year anniversary this year.
Reunion: It comes after Liam recently hinted that Zayn would not be involved in the rumoured One Direction reunion when he joked DJ Alesso could fill in for him
The singer teased that he ‘couldn’t give too much away’ as he spoke to James Corden on the Late Late Show via video chat.
And he revealed to Alesso that he’d been scolded for teasing the reunion.
‘I can’t say too much. Louis told me off for revealing a bit about our plans the other day. So I had a group telling off on the group chat,’ he explained.
Liam did little to quash rumours the band would be reforming to celebrate the milestone, following reports that they would be returning with new music.
Exciting times! Liam confirmed he has been ‘speaking’ to his One Direction band mates again ahead of their 10-year anniversary
He told James: ‘I’m not allowed to say too much obviously because I would be giving it away.’
‘We’ve been speaking a lot more at the moment, I think we are all feeling that that ten year…it’s a very special moment.’
Liam suggested that so far he has only spoken to Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan on FaceTime recently, while he didn’t mention Harry or Zayn.
Back together? The singer teased that he ‘couldn’t give too much away’ as he spoke to James Corden in home version of the Late Late Show (pictured in August 2013)
It comes following reports that their long-awaited reunion has been reportedly thrown into doubt by the coronavirus pandemic.
The band are reportedly in early talks to mark their 10-year anniversary this summer, but a source has claimed the plans may not come to fruition due to their tour commitments and the nationwide lockdown.
A source told The Sun: ‘They are back in touch but talks between them are online about something small to mark the anniversary.
‘A reunion with all five members is a wonderful idea but in practice these things take a long time to arrange and it doesn’t seem feasible at the moment.
Teasing: Liam did little to quash rumours the band would be reforming to celebrate the milestone, following reports that they would be returning with new music
‘And with the continued threat of coronavirus, it is unlikely they will be able to get together for the anniversary.’
Despite fears the cornavirus pandemic could hinder plans for a reunion, it was also reported by Page Six the outbreak helped unite the iconic boyband again by ‘putting their differences into perspective.’
The current COVID-19 crisis has allegedly helped unite the five-piece again, putting their ‘differences into perspective’ as they work towards a common goal.
An insider said: ‘There’s still a long way to go and a lot of hurdles. But there’s a lot of goodwill between them now and they want to make something happen.’
MailOnline was the first news outlet to report on Monday that all four boys had started re-following Zayn on Twitter.
Furthermore, the Pillowtalk singer has gone from being listed as ‘ex-member’ to ‘vocals’ on Google search.
Reunited: Liam suggested that so far he has only spoken to Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan on FaceTime recently, while he didn’t mention Harry Styles and Zayn (pictued in 2013)
In addition, all five of the boys’ albums are now back on Apple Music – with the banner image changed to an old picture featuring Zayn – and their official website has been reactivated.
Another source continued to Page Six: ‘Each of the boys wants to somehow thank the fans for their ten years of loyalty.
‘Despite each of their solo successes, each of them knows that the greatest thanks they can give to their fans is for them to do something together in tribute to where things began.’
On Monday, #OneDirectionReunion began trending on Twitter after the boys all followed Zayn again, following his departure from the band in March 2015 and severing ties with his former friends.
However, Zayn – who has become more private since embarking on a solo career – has yet to follow them back.
Delighted: Fans received notifications the group had re-followed Zayn, five years after his departure from the band in March 2015 and severing ties with his former friends