Novel by Liam Payne's ex sparks backlash and fan petitions
Liam Payne's former partner has written a book detailing a young singer's suicide attempt. The title received negative reactions from fans of the tragically deceased One Direction member, who are demanding the book be removed from store shelves.
Maya Henry is a model and influencer from Texas with over 700,000 followers on Instagram. She dated Liam Payne from 2018 to 2022, and the couple was even engaged, but their relationship did not endure the test of time, leading to their separation. In May 2024, she released a novel, "Looking Forward, " allegedly inspired by real events.
The book has caused significant emotions among Liam Payne's fans. In one scene, the boyfriend of the main character threatens to commit suicide by jumping off a balcony during a drug-induced nervous breakdown. This is disturbingly reminiscent of the circumstances surrounding a One Direction member's death, who, although he did not commit suicide, died after falling from a hotel balcony. Drugs that can cause loss of consciousness and psychotic episodes were found at the scene.
Liam Payne's former partner's book
The book "Looking Forward" explores the story of a model named Mallory who falls in love with Oliver, a member of the popular boyband 5Forward. The controversial suicide attempt scene occurs at the end of the novel when Mallory returns to the apartment she shares with Oliver. There, she discovers her beloved amid a drug-induced nervous breakdown. The fictional artist wrecks the apartment with an axe before fainting.
Liam Payne's fans want the book removed
Fans of Liam Payne have petitioned Amazon, the distributor of "Looking Forward," to remove the title from its store. "This book has generated a wave of controversy and unrest among social media users. Many believe that the book incites harassment, bullying and hatred towards Payne, as they believe everything cited in it, affecting her mental and emotional health to the point of having fatal consequences due to her recent, unfortunate and tragic death," reads the petition's justification.
Further on, it states: "Amazon, as a global platform, has a responsibility to ensure that the products it sells do not promote harmful behaviors or harmful situations. We have a duty to look out for the mental and emotional health of those we love, in this case, Liam and his family, who deserve respect and peace in these difficult times."
Over 31,000 people have signed the petition calling for the removal of "Looking Forward" from Amazon's store.
