Sam Fender Reflects on Liam Payne’s Tragic Death
Sam Fender reflected on the death of former singer Liam Payne last year. See what he said below.
Insight into “Television Dinner”
Speaking with The Sunday Times, Sam Fender discussed the themes of several tracks from his latest album, “People.” One notable track is “Television Dinner,” which has been critically acclaimed since its release as a powerful commentary on the music industry.
In the song, Fender references the late Amy Winehouse and the treatment she received from the industry that contributed to her untimely death in 2011: “Like Winehouse, she was just Burn / they love her now, but then her blood.” This echoes the tragic circumstances surrounding Liam Payne, who suffered a fatal fall from a balcony at the Casasur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last year.
Prior to his death, Payne faced significant public criticism just days before the tragic incident for mocking fans during a concert of former bandmate Niall Horan in Argentina. He had also battled addiction issues, having recently completed a rehabilitation program by July 2023.
Reflecting on Payne’s struggles, Fender told The Sunday Times that he wrote “Television Dinner” shortly before the tragic event: “This is a British culture of creating them to confuse them. It was wild. I wrote this, then Liam Payne died.”
Fender further expressed that he believed Payne was let down by the industry: “You think about the number of times he was dragged through the press, and he didn’t help himself, did he? Bless him. I remember watching videos of him and thinking: ‘God, what a sieve.’ The truth is, he was just a young guy, famous too young, who had drug addiction problems—which everyone judged him for.”
Justin Hawkins’ Comments on Payne
Sam Fender’s reflections resonate with earlier critiques made by Justin Hawkins, who had criticized Payne but stated his reasons for not removing his posts following the singer’s death. Back in March 2023, Hawkins shared a video assessing previous interviews of Payne and critiqued some of his behaviors as “arrogant.” A considerable portion of the video focused on a controversial discussion Payne had with Logan Paul regarding One Direction, where he implied he should be viewed as the main member of the group.
Although Hawkins appeared to defend Payne to some extent—describing him as his “beloved” and acknowledging his struggles—these comments were revisited after Payne’s death. Hawkins remarked, “It’s very sad what happened to him, but at the end of the day, this will not change my view of this specific behavior. Everyone is complicated; there are layers, and I will always laugh at things that are ridiculous.”
In a four-star review, Tilly Fulks wrote for NME: “Reflective, analytical, and vulnerable, ‘People’ offers a summary of the relationships, friends, and family that shaped who he is today. Each track is approached with sensitivity, as he reflects on his life—perhaps even with a hint of guilt—and contemplates who he can become.”
Meanwhile, Fender announced that he is already working on his next project and revealed upcoming UK tour dates, including performances at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on August 16 and Edinburgh Summer Sessions in Belfast on August 28.
Sam Fender performs on the 2nd day of the festival in Leeds 2023 at Bramham Park on August 26, 2023. (Photo by Matthew Baker/Getty Images)
Support for the first two shows will come from Olivia Dean, while CMAT will open for the Belfast show. Visit here to buy tickets and find a list of Great Britain tour dates.
The singer-songwriter was also recently appointed as the official ambassador for Record Store Day UK 2025, and will release two new songs as part of a special EP for the celebration. He is nominated for two Brit awards at next month’s ceremony: Artist of the Year and Alt/Rock Act.
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