Liam Payne candidly discussed his battle with addiction before his untimely death at 31 on Wednesday.

The One Direction star was discovered deceased after allegedly falling from the balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as confirmed by local authorities on Wednesday. According to a police report, they received a call about a “violent individual who might have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol” at the Casa Sur hotel, located in the Palermo area.

In 2019, when he released his debut solo album “LP1,” Payne spoke with YSL News about his battles with alcohol and his wish for sobriety.

He described his decision to stay sober for a year at that time as part of “growing up.”

“Fortunately for me during those times (when I was drinking), I was surrounded by amazing people who helped me see different phases in my life where I could improve,” he mentioned. “Also, becoming a parent significantly shifts the mindset regarding your actions.”

He further noted, “I still consider myself quite young – or at least I’d like to think so – so I still have a lot of self-discovery ahead of me.”

Payne expressed that drinking in moderation was a “continuous learning experience,” highlighting that therapy assisted him in establishing a healthier connection with alcohol.

“As you grow older, hangovers become a whole new experience. There’s that classic saying, ‘I’ll just have one,’ but you can never truly know. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you make a mistake or if the night goes overboard,” he reflected. “As long as I can perform my responsibilities the next day at a satisfactory level, I consider it a valuable lesson learned and tell myself, ‘I won’t make that mistake again.’ I still enjoy going out and having fun.”

Liam Payne remarked about One Direction’s ‘break’: ‘It’s not goodbye’

Payne was transparent about his experience after One Direction.

In 2015, following Zayn Malik’s departure from the band and the remaining members — Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson — announcing an indefinite hiatus, Payne indicated that the notion of a “break” was “beginning to resonate.”

“It is certainly very upsetting for us. However, we will be returning, so it’s not farewell, just ‘See you later,'” he conveyed during the YSL News interview. Each member subsequently pursued solo projects.

Years later, he reflected on the intense excitement surrounding the boy band, noting that it has thankfully “cooled off” as fans matured and no longer dedicated “time to wait outside hotels for us.”

“As your fans grow older, the intensity of the frenzy transforms,” he expressed.

If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges or battling substance use issues, please reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free and confidential treatment referral service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This service is available 24/7 in both English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).