Maya Henry, the former fiancée of late One Direction star Liam Payne, has publicly denied rumours that she is participating in a tell-all documentary about their relationship, describing such reports as 'fake news'.
Addressing the Rumours
The 24-year-old American model took to her Instagram Stories to shut down speculation that she was working with HBO and an independent production company on a documentary project. This followed reports in The Sun that such a documentary was in development, which had raised concerns about how it might affect Payne's grieving family.
Henry wrote emphatically: 'I am NOT doing a documentary, despite the offers I've received. I am NOT doing any interviews, or features about my situation or my past.' She described the stories as 'completely false' and stated her intention to move forward rather than dwell on past difficulties.
Family Concerns and Past Allegations
The initial reports about the alleged documentary had sparked worry among Payne's family members, who are still coming to terms with his tragic death last year. The singer died aged 31 after falling from his hotel room balcony while on holiday in Argentina.
A source close to the family had expressed concern to The Sun, noting that 'this documentary is going to be hugely upsetting for Liam's family, who are struggling with unimaginable loss.' The insider had also highlighted the one-sided nature such a project would inevitably have, given that Payne is no longer here to share his perspective.
Payne's family includes his sisters Ruth and Nicola, his parents, and his eight-year-old son Bear, whom he shared with pop star Cheryl.
Henry's Stance on Moving Forward
In her social media statement, Henry made her position clear about not wanting to exploit past pain. She wrote: 'The last thing I want to do is revisit trauma for public consumption. I am tired of the fake news and all these false narratives.'
She emphasised that she's currently 'in a healthy place in the present' and believes that 'the past is the past,' indicating her desire to leave behind the difficult aspects of her relationship with the One Direction star.
Henry had previously been candid about the challenges she faced during and after her relationship with Payne. Earlier this year, she revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that drug use had been a significant factor in their relationship struggles, specifically mentioning his alleged use of heroin among other substances.
The couple's relationship spanned four years, including a two-year engagement that Payne called off in 2022. Though they briefly reconciled, they ultimately separated for good in April 2022.
Ongoing Difficulties After the Breakup
Henry had previously spoken out about what she described as persistent contact from Payne after their separation. She claimed he would message her 'obsessively' using different phone numbers and iCloud accounts, behaviour that eventually led her to take legal action.
At the time of Payne's death, Henry was believed to be in the process of issuing a cease and desist order against him. Her lawyers confirmed to Metro that she had retained legal representation following 'the emergence of new and concerning information.'
The model and novelist, who wrote a fictional book believed to be based on her relationship with Payne, has consistently maintained that she faced significant challenges both during and after their time together, including trolling from One Direction fans.
Payne himself had acknowledged his shortcomings in relationships during a 2021 appearance on Stephen Bartlett's Diary Of A CEO podcast, stating: 'I feel like more than anything at this point, I'm more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people.'
Five people have been charged in connection with Payne's death in Argentina, where he fell from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. His funeral last November was attended by all of his One Direction bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson - along with family and friends.
