This deeply emotional interview on the Internet is Dead podcast reveals Maya Henry’s candid experiences with her former fiancé, Liam Payne, in the years following their breakup.
Maya shares that despite their relationship ending, Liam often reached out with troubling messages, hinting at his struggles and sometimes making concerning references to death. Maya describes how these messages put her in a position where she felt compelled to help, as she feared the worst for him, knowing his high-risk lifestyle and believing something tragic might eventually happen.
Maya recalls that Liam’s distressing messages became a pattern that resurfaced at key points in her life, such as when she announced her upcoming book, Looking Forward, a novel inspired by her experiences during their time together. She shares how Liam would reach out to her family, particularly her mother, telling them he wasn’t doing well and needed Maya to contact him. The situation put significant emotional pressure on her, as she felt torn between wanting to move on and feeling a responsibility to support someone she once loved. She explains that the cycle repeated multiple times, creating a sense of emotional manipulation and guilt that lingered, especially when Liam expressed fears about his life being in jeopardy if he didn’t receive support.
One of the most challenging aspects for Maya was the external pressure and warnings she received. She describes that both her friends and Liam’s friends expressed concerns about his well-being, and some even suggested that if her book went public, it might negatively affect him. Maya felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, fearing that if something happened to Liam, not only would she blame herself, but the public might also hold her accountable. This made her feel trapped between her desire to move forward with her life and the weight of his mental health struggles that seemed intertwined with her own actions and decisions. She refers to this as “low manipulation,” adding that the whole situation became emotionally exhausting and toxic over time.
Reflecting on the relationship, Maya highlights the emotional impact it had on her and her family. She notes that even her loved ones were involved as Liam reached out to them when she wouldn’t respond, using phrases like, “I’m not going to be around much longer,” which deepened her sense of responsibility. She admits that these messages would often push her to reach out, even when she felt the need to step back, due to the concern she felt for his well-being. Maya reveals that she even tried to assist Liam with treatment, telling him she would help him return to rehab if needed, but that he wasn’t receptive to the idea. This experience left her feeling that her family’s kindness was being taken advantage of, as Liam’s messages seemed to pull her back into his orbit, despite her efforts to establish boundaries.
Maya also mentions that her experience with Liam was marked by feelings of uncertainty and manipulation, especially with the frequent warnings that he might die by suicide or face dangerous circumstances. These warnings intensified in the months leading up to her book release, with some close to Liam expressing concerns about its impact on him. She describes how friends and confidants emphasized that the timing of her book could add stress to an already fragile situation, making her worry that her career choices might have unintended consequences on his well-being.
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The relationship began when Maya and Liam were first linked in 2018. They became engaged in 2020, a seemingly happy milestone, yet behind the scenes, challenges persisted, ultimately leading to their breakup in 2022. Reflecting on this journey, Maya sought legal distance from Liam, issuing a cease and desist in an attempt to create boundaries. Following Liam’s tragic death, a source close to Maya mentioned that she was “obviously in shock,” as the news reopened complex emotions and difficult memories tied to their years together.
In the interview, Maya underscores the toll this relationship took on her mental health and sense of self. She uses terms like “toxic” and “manipulative” to describe the dynamic, acknowledging the heavy emotional burden she carried. Despite their separation, the continued entanglement left a lasting impact, highlighting the difficulty of moving on from a relationship when emotional manipulation and mental health struggles are at play.
