Maya Henry is breaking her silence on the passing of her ex-fiancé, Liam Payne.
The model, who was engaged to the former One Direction star in 2020 before their split in 2022, released a heartfelt statement via Rolling Stone, reflecting on their relationship, his struggles, and the events leading up to his untimely death in October 2024.
“This was someone I loved very much. Initially, it was the drug use and addictions that tore us apart. Anyone who has been with an addict understands how difficult that is. 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. 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. I tried to be there for him. I loved him so much that I convinced myself I could fix things.”
She continued, “I put myself in situations that were unsafe and harmful, ignoring every red flag. 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.… 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. I don’t fault him for his struggles.”
Maya also opened up about the lasting impact of their relationship, adding, “I stood by him in his darkest moments, through the chaos, through the pain, through things that broke me in ways I can’t explain. And yet, when it was all over, I was left with nothing but emptiness. The love I gave, the sacrifices I made—they weren’t enough because they never could be. I wasn’t just heartbroken; I felt defrauded, as so many women in my position would. But what I do know is this: 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’s statement also touches on allegations of betrayal, personal struggles, and the emotional toll of their relationship. As she continues to process his passing, she’s left grappling with the pain of what was—and what remains.
