One Direction’s Liam Payne is finally addressing those accusations of biphobia that plagued him all throughout the release of his debut album LP1 last year.
The album dropped in December. Despite a heavy promotional campaign and lots of buzz, it ended up being a bomb, failing to produce a hit single or make any sort of dent in the music charts.
Much of the issue had to do with blowback Payne received for the album’s tenth track, “Both Ways,” which detailed a sexual encounter with a man and two women.
Many felt the song’s lyrics perpetuated passé stereotypes often attached bisexual people, particularly bisexual women. As a result, a backlash ensued and the hashtag #liampayneisoverparty trended on Twitter. Payne was never really able to successfully mitigate the fallout.
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Related: Guys like Liam Payne need to stop writing songs about bisexual people
Now, five months later, he has issued an apology of sorts for the whole debacle. Speaking to the Daily Star, he says: “I am sorry to anyone who got offended by certain songs or different things on the album.”
“It was never my intention with any of the writing or things I was doing. I was just challenging myself in different areas. Looking back on it now, it was just a moment in time for me.”
Payne goes on to say that many of the songs his label sent him to record were “sexually based,” and that pushed him towards exploring themes around sex and sexuality in his songwriting.
“I was pigeonholed into this kind of thing and, of course, I am a young guy I am interested in that sort of stuff. I like the idea of the songs and the grooves or certain vibes so I was like, ‘OK let’s go for it.’ It was a growing period. It just kind of happened.”
He continues, “Honestly, it wasn’t a deliberate move [to make sexual songs]. It was a very confusing time for me when I was making that album.”
Going forward, Payne says his music “will be less sexy,” adding “I think I passed my time on that one anyway” and he’s not interested in “going down that route again.”
Chrisk
It was an attempt at revamp his image after hanging out with Phil Robertson. Saying things like he really likes their values and shit. Totally contradictory to his fans since the other side isn’t gonna be buying your shit.
Now he’s doing a Aaron Carter. Didn’t really mean it. I was young and naive. bla bla bla.
boymikefl
Call Madonna or RuPaul. They’ll tell you what people say about you, is none of your business. Basically, do you. You will never please all the people, all the time. I guess, decide who you are. It’s 2020. You can be whoever you want and give everybody the finger. Say bye Felicia. If you blew the other boys, you get points from this room. It’s a big boost to have gay support. Ask Madge, Cher, Cyndi, blah, blah, blah 😛
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
“One Direction singer Liam Payne goes shooting with anti-gay Duck Dynasty stars
One Direction singer Liam Payne has gone on a shooting trip with the anti-gay stars of Duck Dynasty.
One of the singer’s friends posted a picture of him this week in Louisiana, holding a gun with members of the Robertson family, who have been embroiled in repeated rows over homophob
Phil Robertson was suspended from the A&E reality show for less than two weeks last year, when he questioned in an interview to GQ why gay men would prefer “a man’s anus” over a vagina.
Robertson this month added to controversy again when he claimed that sexually transmitted infections are God’s punishment for gays, and earlier this year gave an Easter Sermon claiming that the “sexually immoral” would go to hell.
Members of his family have also appeared at the conferences and events of several anti-gay groups, with his son Alan Robertson hailing Robertson as a 21st Century prophet akin to John the Baptist.
Payne’s friend Andy Samuels posted the now-deleted picture on Twitter, writing: “Today I shot a gun at a clay disc thing and I loved it”
Payne previously waded into controversy earlier this year, when he tweeted a message of support to the Robertsons praising “the family values you still all behold”.
Fcuk that noxious repugnant little SMC puke….Only “apologizes” when it affects his bank account….
Black Pegasus
“Bi-phobia?” “Bi-erasure?”
LMAO …..bisexuality is and has always been a social construct. It’s not real and authentic. It’s a practice and an accommodation by those in society who choose to recognize it.. In other words, it’s F A K E.
Josh447
All labels are social constructs. Bi is very real. Do your homework.
Black Pegasus
Josh
sorry, but “Bisexuality” is as convoluted as “non binary”. It’s not real nor is it authentic. Every so called “bisexual” man I’ve ever met was a narcissist who believed he was too good for just one gender. And incidentally they all ended up being my bottoms lol
Josh447
Kinsey interviewed upward of 12,000 men and women to produce the Kinsey scale. It would seen from your one person point of view, Kinsey is invalid. Do you consider the Kinetic Scale rubbish?
Josh447
Kinsey interviewed upward of 12,000 men and women to produce the Kinsey scale. It would seem from your one person point of view, Kinsey is invalid. Do you consider the Kinsey Scale rubbish?
Josh447
Please in the future, when you feel compelled to bi-bash our LGB brothers and sisters Billy Graham style, consider how you effect masses of people that just happen not to be, just like you.
garybw
Little boys should keep their clothes on. I was drunk and didn’t know what i was doing. I wrote terrible songs and my album bombed, cause the “label” made me. Grow up already.
Tombear
OK Queen, I care enough to make a comment but I don’t care!
Reuben
You homophobic, biphobic , transphobic snake I am not buying your apology or your CD’s
justgeo
Why should I care about an overly inked insecure piece of shit?
kdhain12
You contend his album was a bomb, then say a track off said bomb that ‘many’ considered biphobic (?!?!) created the ‘blowback’ / ‘fallout’? The LP more than likely fizzled cause it wasn’t any good; I don’t particularly care for him due to his whole duck dynasty fascination… that and he comes off like a creep. Homophobia is a thing; biphobia is not.
TheMarc
I don’t believe he’s “biphobic.” He may have been trading on a stereotype; but I don’t think it was an exceptionally or intentionally offensive one. Certainly not worth of all of this attention with all of the outrageously anti-LGBT things happening in the world. The song was a straight male fantasy; nothing else. Are we going to start protesting all the shows that tout how LGBT-inclusive they are, but they’re really only showing a hot bi-sexual or lesbian woman or female couple? Sorry, it’s the SAME thing.
You want to write a gay-centric article about him? Then his past “company” really should give any LGBT person cause for concern. Trust that no one who hangs out with who he has hanged out with in the past is an “ally” or someone we should be giving our money or time to.