Liam Payne, former 1D heartthrob and all-around loveable rascal, tragically left us at the age of 31, and his ex-girlfriend Danielle Peazer has penned a heartfelt farewell thatโll hit you right in the feels โ right after it slaps you with a little nostalgia and possibly makes you rewatch old X Factor clips.
Danielle, who once twirled across the stage as a professional dancer while Liam was busy becoming 20% of every teenโs daydream, shared a touching post on Instagram. She even revealed the final message she received from him a couple of weeks ago. Spoiler: It was sweet enough to make a Hallmark movie seem emotionally reserved.
These two were the very definition of on-and-off romance for a solid two years โ which in the world of showbiz is basically a lifetime, right? They met on The X Factor, broke up in 2013, but somehow kept orbiting around each other like emotionally complicated planets. Since then, Danielle has gone on to have a daughter named Mia with her current boyfriend, Sonny Joy โ who, by the way, sounds like the happiest name ever.
“Our Last Text? You Wonโt Believe How Wholesome It Was.”
In her statement, Danielle shared that Liamโs message wasnโt your typical โhey, hope youโre goodโ text. Nope! It was a heartfelt โIโm happy you found loveโ message that practically radiated good vibes. If texts could wear halos, this one would be floating six feet off the ground.
โReceiving a message from you a couple of weeks ago expressing your happiness for the love I found with Sonny and Mia is something Iโll cherish forever,โ she said, subtly implying that Liam might have secretly qualified as an honorary life coach.
Remembering Liam: A Boybander and a Legend
Danielle reminded us that while Liam lived in our playlists as one-fourth (RIP Zayn era) of One Direction, he was more than just โthat guy with the voice and the hair.โ He was a son, a brother, a friend, and โ plot twist โ an uncle. And apparently, he wore all these hats like a pro.
But his most cherished role? Dad. Danielle acknowledged how much Liam loved being a father to his son Bear, whose name already sounds like the cuddliest superhero ever. She wrote, โThe thought that there is now a child growing up without one of their parents is heartbreaking and unfair.โ If this part doesnโt have you aggressively dabbing your eyes, do you even have a soul?
She also sent love to Bear, Liamโs parents, and his sisters, promising them her support. And honestly, Danielle sounds like the type of person who sends casseroles and emotional check-in texts โ a rare combo.
The Brutally Honest Friendship We All Aspire To Have
Danielle didnโt shy away from the complicated nature of her relationship with Liam, saying they were really good at being โbrutally honest.โ Translation: They could call each other out without hesitation. Thatโs basically the relationship dream, right? Who doesnโt want someone who loves you but will also tell you when your new haircut was definitely a mistake?
โAt times, you were my favorite person in the whole world, but you could also wind me up so much,โ she admitted. Same, Danielle, same. Love isn’t all champagne and sunsets โ sometimes it’s accidentally-on-purpose ignoring someone’s texts because they didnโt laugh at your joke.
A Relationship That Never Really Ended, Just Shifted into ‘Weird Forever Friends’ Mode
Even though they officially called it quits in 2013, Danielle explained that their story didnโt really have a neat ending. โWe always knew weโd have some sort of connection forever, no matter where our individual lives took us,โ she wrote. It’s like those old school best friends who you donโt talk to for years, but when you do, itโs like nothingโs changed โ except now everyoneโs tired and keeps a heating pad nearby.
Liamโs journey to happiness took a bit longer than expected โ probably because being an international pop star doesnโt exactly leave much room for self-discovery. Danielle noted that most of us get our twenties to figure things out, but Liam spent his trying to survive global fame and mastering boyband choreography. Talk about a non-traditional growth experience.
The Life Lessons That Stick Forever
Danielle also thanked Liam for teaching her the importance of boundaries and protecting her heart โ which sounds like the kind of advice weโd all write on sticky notes and slap onto every available surface.
Her closing words will hit you harder than a surprise One Direction reunion:
โIโm sorry your story didnโt end differently, and Iโm sorry you didnโt get to share more of your magic with the world.โ Cue the emotional slow zoom, soft piano music, and 100% chance of a teary group hug.
Rest Easy, Liam. Weโll Keep Dancing.
Danielle wrapped things up with a final โRest easy, my friendโ and a signature that read simply, โLove, Danielle x.โ And just like that, she managed to make grief sound beautiful, bittersweet, and kind of funny โ because if thereโs one thing lifeโs complicated relationships teach us, itโs that love isnโt perfect, but itโs still worth every second.
Now excuse us while we revisit every One Direction song ever made. And maybe text an ex. Or not.