Why Louis Tomlinson “Could Never” Perform With One Direction Again

After rumors One Direction would reunite to honor late Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson’s publicist shared the heartbreaking reason why he won’t perform with the band.

Louis Tomlinson is mourning on his own terms.

Five months after his One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, died following a fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina, the singer is still coming to terms with the massive loss. In fact, he has zero plans to perform with the remaining members of the group anytime soon.

Nine months after fellow One Direction member Liam Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, the singer is still trying to come to terms with his devastating loss. In fact, he has no plans to perform with the rest of the group any time soon.

“Louis is absolutely devastated,” a PR executive for Tomlinson, 33, told The Standard. “He could never go up there and sing as a member of the band after what happened.”

Indeed, there was speculation that Tomlinson would reunite with former bandmates Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Niall Horan for a special tribute to Payne. The four, who never responded to the rumours at the time, did not appear on stage, but the BRIT Awards did air a video montage of the late singer, which Tomlinson praised on X.

In the weeks following Payne’s shocking death at 31, all four of the remaining members—Malik left the group in 2015, and the band went on an indefinite hiatus that following year—shared heartfelt tributes and later reunited for his funeral last November.

“Liam was an incredible songwriter with a great sense of melody,” Tomlinson said in an Oct. 17 Instagram tribute, which featured a touching photo of them performing onstage. “We often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.”

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The 33-year-old also noted that he was “beyond lucky” to have known the late singer, before promising that he’ll be there for Payne’s son Bear, whom he shares with ex Cheryl Cole.

“I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was,” he continued. “I wish I got [the] chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.”