Tag: Liam Payne

  • ‘Building the Band’ Champions Individuality — and Pays Tribute to Liam Payne

    ‘Building the Band’ Champions Individuality — and Pays Tribute to Liam Payne

    On Netflix’s Building the Band, singing isn’t just for the stage—it spills into the hallways, the dorms, and even the snack breaks. The new singing competition brings together emerging artists to form bands sight unseen, and what follows is a musical experiment full of talent, heart, and harmony.

    In a recent interview with Gayety, members from the show’s standout bands—3Quency, SZN4, and Soulidified—shared what really happened behind the scenes, how music brought them together, and what the experience meant to them.

    Meet the Bands

    3Quency—the powerhouse girl group that ultimately won the competition—is made up of Nori Royale, Brianna Mazzola, and Wennely Quezada. The chemistry was instant. “We fell in love with each other as soon as we saw each other,” Wennely said. “Just being able to rehearse with them, laugh, bake cookies—it was all a highlight.”

    Building The Band. (L to R) Brianna Mazzola, Malik Heard, Wennely Quezada in episode 110 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
    Building The Band. (L to R) Brianna Mazzola, Malik Heard, Wennely Quezada in episode 110 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

    Yes, cookies. “One thing I love is a cookie,” Brianna added with a laugh. “We would be working ourselves to the breaking point… but the one thing we had every night was a cookie. It made it all better.”

    For SZN4—comprised of Katie Roeder, Cameron Goode, Donzell Taggart, and Aaliyah Rose—the show offered something deeper than just performance. “I became the person that I’ve always dreamt of being,” Cameron shared. “It made me realize the gift that God gave me—and I found my people that love me for who I am.”

    Building The Band. (L to R) Donzell Taggart, Aaliyah Larsen, Katie Roeder, Cameron Goode in episode 110 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
    Building The Band. (L to R) Donzell Taggart, Aaliyah Larsen, Katie Roeder, Cameron Goode in episode 110 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

    Soulidified—featuring Bradley Rittmann, Landon Boyce, Malik Heard, and Shade Jenifer—found their groove quickly. “We’re just pushing each other,” Landon said. “I sing to have my brothers on stage with me.” Malik added that their bond came through in performance: “Our first song together—‘You Remind Me’—really solidified us as a unit.”

    Building The Band. (L to R) Bradley Rittmann, Malik Heard, Landon Boyce, Shade Jenifer in episode 110 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
    Building The Band. (L to R) Bradley Rittmann, Malik Heard, Landon Boyce, Shade Jenifer in episode 110 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

    Harmony in the Halls

    Every band agreed: the singing never stopped. “We have riff-offs all the time,” said Landon. “We randomly harmonize—just pushing each other.” For SZN4, the group would “mostly just sing to each other when we’re talking,” Aaliyah laughed. “It’s like our whole life turned into a musical.”

    The Message Behind the Music

    Each artist echoed a similar hope for what viewers take away. “Do it scared,” said Nori. “Do it not knowing what’s going to happen. Override the fear.” Brianna added, “Every ‘no’ is bringing you where you’re supposed to be. Eventually it all makes sense.”

    Honoring a Legend

    Building The Band. (L to R) Kelly Rowland, Liam Payne, Nicole Scherzinger in episode 107 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
    Building The Band. (L to R) Kelly Rowland, Liam Payne, Nicole Scherzinger in episode 107 of Building The Band. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

    The show’s host AJ McLean and judges Kelly Rowland and the late Liam Payne—brought their own legacies into the experience. “You think about a group and you think about harmony,” Kelly said. “What harmony really means—and how we need that right now.”

    AJ praised the cast’s authenticity: “The level of talent on this show surpassed my expectations. It’s been a privilege to watch these bands form. This is giving the power back to the artist.”

    Both Kelly and AJ reflected on the unique light Liam Payne brought to the show before his untimely death. “His intuition, his one-liners, his sincerity,” Kelly said. “He brought so much light.” AJ added, “He lit up every room. He was encouraging, always. I’m glad we got to dedicate this show to him.”

    The first season of Building the Band is streaming now on Netflix. Watch our interviews below.

  • Liam Payne Allegedly ‘Struggled with His Sexuality’ and Had ‘Inappropriate’ Conversations with Men in New Report

    Liam Payne Allegedly ‘Struggled with His Sexuality’ and Had ‘Inappropriate’ Conversations with Men in New Report

    Details of Liam Payne’s troubled relationship with ex-fiancée Maya Henry have surfaced four months after his death in October 2024. Allegations regarding the former One Direction member’s behavior and struggles during their on-and-off relationship from 2018 to 2022 are highlighted in a Rolling Stone cover story published Tuesday.

    Multiple sources have revealed to the magazine that Payne, who passed away at 31, allegedly struggled privately with his sexuality. According to the insiders, the singer sent sexually explicit messages to other men while he and Henry were dating. These revelations have added a new layer to the complex and tumultuous relationship between the pair.

    Henry, 25, reportedly discovered Payne’s secret sexting when he accidentally broadcast the messages to their television. Further claims from sources indicate that Payne, in an effort to control Henry’s decisions, allegedly forced her to terminate a pregnancy in 2020. One source described a heated conversation in which Payne allegedly gave Henry an ultimatum: either get an abortion and stay with him or raise the child alone with no support from him.

    “He sent Maya a long message saying it’s either get an abortion and stay with him, or raise the kid alone, and he will not acknowledge either of them,” the source claimed. This was particularly shocking to Henry, as Payne had previously expressed a desire to start a family, and the couple had been trying for a child.

    The model later confirmed her abortion in her 2024 novel Looking Forward, which she said was “inspired by” her relationship with Payne. In the book, Henry’s character, Mallory, goes through a similar experience. During a May 2024 interview, Henry revealed that she faced medical complications following the procedure and had to go to the hospital alone, though she did not specify when the abortion occurred.

    In addition to these allegations, the Rolling Stone report also included troubling accounts of physical violence. Sources claim that Payne pushed Henry down a flight of stairs and chased her with an axe during their turbulent relationship. In a statement to the magazine, Henry expressed the depth of her feelings for Payne despite the abuse. “I loved him very much,” she said, acknowledging the challenges of loving someone struggling with addiction. “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.”

    Henry also admitted to ignoring “red flags” during their time together, putting herself in harmful and unsafe situations. However, she clarified that she did not blame Payne for his struggles, emphasizing the complex nature of their relationship.

    Following their breakup in 2022, Henry made headlines by sending Payne a cease-and-desist letter after he allegedly sent unsolicited, disturbing images and videos to her and her loved ones. By this time, Payne had moved on to a relationship with Kate Cassidy, who was with him in Argentina shortly before his death.

    In October 2024, Payne tragically fell to his death from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Cassidy, who had returned home to the U.S. alone, was reportedly not with him at the time of the incident. Payne’s death has sparked ongoing investigations, with five individuals charged in connection to the incident, according to court documents obtained by Page Six in December 2024.

    The recent revelations shed light on the darker side of Payne’s personal life, highlighting the emotional and physical toll his struggles with addiction, sexuality, and relationships took on those close to him. His relationship with Maya Henry, in particular, appears to have been fraught with both affection and pain, leaving a complicated legacy in its wake.