Aston Merrygold says fellow X Factor star Liam Payne shouldn’t blame being in a boyband for mental health issues, stating losing privacy ‘comes with the job’
JLS singer Aston Merrygold has slammed Liam Payne for blaming being in One Direction for his mental health issues.
Liam has admitted he felt “trapped” in the boyband, claiming he was locked inside “lonely hotel rooms”, which “really f***ed” him up.
However Aston, who also found fame in a boyband having been on the X Factor disputes the singer’s claims.
Speaking to The Sun he said: “You are your own boss. It’s not that you were not allowed to do something. He was in the biggest band on the planet and there were thousands of people outside the hotel. So it was probably a safety thing.
“It comes with the job. You sign away your privacy. I think you should expect everything, expect it all and say, ‘This is what I want to work for’.
“If you don’t want any of those things then you should not start it because it (the downside) does come and when it does come there are going to be bits that you don’t like.”
According to Liam, there were several bits of being in one of the most successful boy bands of all time he didn’t like, including not feeling he had a choice and at times working in a “toxic” environment.
Liam has admitted going through a wild “pills and booze phase” in One Direction which made his face “10 times bigger” than now.
1D became the biggest boy band in the world after being formed on The X Factor in 2010. But constant touring for Liam, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik took its toll and they split in 2015.
Asked about “moments of suicidal ideation”, Liam replied: “Yeah. There is definitely some stuff I have never spoken about to do with it. It was really, really severe.”
Liam also confirmed his split with Maya Henry, 20, during his chat on the Diary of a CEO podcast with Steve Bartlett. He said: “I’m disappointed [that] I keep on hurting people. That annoys me. I’ve just not been very good at relationships.”
Despite his up and down relationship with fame Liam admitted he would like a 1D reunion “sooner rather than later”.
Liam added: “I get on great with most of them. I had a call from Harry the other day. I love him to pieces. Louis I speak to a lot. We have always had a close connection.”
(
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)
(
Image:
WireImage)
JLS announced their highly-anticipated comeback to fans after signing a new record deal earlier this year.
Aston, Marvin Humes, Oritse Williams and JB Gill, will release new music after teaming up with record label BMG.
The four-piece were forced to postpone their comeback greatest hits tour last March after the world was plunged into a lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
* If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
