The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins doubles down on Liam Payne criticism-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

Justin Hawkins won’t delete video criticising Liam Payne’s behaviour (Picture: Rex/Getty)

Justin Hawkins has addressed his controversial comments on the late Liam Payne saying he hasn’t ‘changed his views’.

The Darkness icon previously slammed Payne, who died two months ago, calling him ‘arrogant’ for his erratic behaviour.

This video – posted in March 2023 – resurfaced after the One Direction star died on October 16 aged 31 when he fell from a hotel room balcony in Argentina.

Three arrests were made while the police continued to investigate concerns over Payne’s mental well-being and possible substance abuse.

In a new video on his YouTube channel, Justin Hawkins Rides Again, he read out comments declaring he now had ‘blood on his hands’.

‘I didn’t see that Liam situation coming,’ the 49-year-old singer began. ‘I didn’t pay enough attention to his career to recognise that there were signs of mental instability.

Payne died suddenly aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony (Picture: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Hawkins said he ‘didn’t recognise signs of mental instability’ (Picture: Diogo Baptista/SOPA Images/Shutt)

‘I just thought it was somebody who definitely wasn’t coping with fame or was trying to big themselves up or come across as something that was a little bit inauthentic. That’s what I was highlighting really.’

The contentious video was posted after Payne appeared on Logan Paul’s podcast and included a compilation of clips of the Strip That Down singer’s more unruly moments.

Hawkins can be seen watching these snippets and providing commentary on the behaviour, much of which does not see the late star in a positive light.

Payne had addressed his mental health over the years, telling the BBC he faced ‘dark years’ and went through ‘extreme peril’.

He had taken a step back from performing months before his death, suffering from a health scare in late 2023.

Hawkins continued: ‘I don’t think I actually said [much], it was just watching some videos where he was obviously behaving like a b*****d. As simple as that. There are videos of just about every artist in the world who hits a low ebb or on a bad day where they get interviewed and they make themselves seem like p***ks.

‘There just seems to be more of them with Liam at my disposal for that particular episode.’

Some fans called for Hawkins’ original video to be taken down, accusing the I Believe in a Thing Called Love hitmaker of exacerbating Payne’s struggles.

The One Direction star had addressed his mental health issues (Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

However, he has refused to take it down, explaining he didn’t want to ‘pretend that [he] hadn’t observed those things’.

The Love Is Only a Feeling hitmaker added that it was ‘really sad what happened to him’ but that he would not ‘change [his] views on those specific behaviours.’

Hawkins explained: ‘Everybody’s complex and there are layers to this and laughing at some stuff that’s laughable… that’s what I do. It’s what I’ll always do.’

Closing the video, he said he always tries to be as ‘honest’ as he can.

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