It appears that over the years, Louis Tomlinson has done a lot of reflecting on his personal life and career. He recently opened up about losing former member Liam Payne and the role his former member played in the group throughout their active years.
The singer also did an interview on The Diary Of A CEO YouTube channel, discussing various topics from his early childhood, One Direction, his solo career and fatherhood. While reflecting on his time with his bandmates, he recalled the time when Zayn left the group and how that ultimately led to the permanent disbandment.
When asked how he felt about Zayn’s decision to leave One Direction, Louis Tomlinson admitted that he was furious when he found out, explaining that he wished they had discussed it before the decision was made. “I thought we had the kind of relationship where he could’ve had that conversation with me. If he’d told me, I would have tried to convince him to stay. I think that’s probably one of the reasons why he didn’t — because he knew I was always very opinionated,” the singer said.
He then revealed that the group found out about Zayn’s departure on the day he failed to show up for a photoshoot. “The night before we found out, we hung out in our hotel room, and everything was normal. He was cool, not really in a bad mood or anything. The next morning, we were doing a shoot for a sponsored thing and found out he wasn’t coming,” the 33-year-old explained. Although he was initially upset, Louis admitted that, looking back, he has always admired Zayn for never giving in to something he didn’t want to do, adding that he himself would have endured it and been in denial.
The two have remained friends and have met from time to time over the years. However, to this day, Louis has always wondered whether Zayn misses his time in One Direction — something he would like to discuss with him the next time they meet. The father of one then recalled the meeting that marked the end of the band, describing the atmosphere in the room as cold.
“It was an atmosphere that you never really felt in the band, because normally it’s all camaraderie. Then, all of a sudden, you get someone thinking more independently and for themselves, which, by the way, they have every right to do. But the room felt cold that day; I’ve never quite felt an energy like that in the room. There was this emptiness,” he explained.
While One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus, Louis said he wished he’d had some indication of how long it was going to last, but soon realised that no one had the courage to answer that question. “Deep down, I think they probably knew the reality, and that’s why it was tough.”
Watch the full interview below:
Sources: YouTube, People, Variety
