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Liam Payne Reflected on Tom Parker’s Funeral Days Before His Untimely Death

Published October 22, 2024

Liam Payne shared memories of Tom Parker's funeral shortly before his own tragic passing. During a fan interaction on September 22 at Greenacres Bowl near Wellington, Florida, he had a touching conversation that left a lasting impression.

Alexandria Isola, a 24-year-old fan, recounted her meeting with the former One Direction star in an exclusive discussion. "He was a very genuine, humble, cool guy," she told. During their chat, Isola mentioned her discussions with Universal Orlando about filming her TV show, "5 Days A Week," at the theme park. Payne responded by reminiscing about One Direction's experience at the park during the launch of their album, recalling being made to ride Dueling Dragons roller coaster multiple times.

The conversation then turned to the members of The Wanted, where Isola shared her own memories of meeting Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuiness, and Tom Parker at the same theme park. She remarked how her father teased her about favoring The Wanted over One Direction, to which Payne reflected, "You know, with The Wanted, I just went to Tom’s funeral and he was a really nice guy." Isola noticed how this statement genuinely affected him.

Payne expressed his gratitude for being able to attend Parker's celebration of life. Parker passed away in March 2022 due to a brain tumor, losing his battle at the age of 33. Isola admitted that hearing Payne talk about this experience was emotional, especially in light of his own recent death.

On October 16, Payne tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina at the age of 31. His preliminary autopsy report later revealed he sustained multiple injuries, resulting from internal and external hemorrhage, and identified several contributing factors to his death.

Amid the heartbreak of losing Payne, Isola finds comfort in their recent interaction. She recalled his playful side while bowling, describing him as a lighthearted character who even bowled backward at one point. "He seemed like a goofball," she said. "If I can be that one person to shed light on him and how he was only a few weeks ago being happy and excited about maybe doing an opportunity with comedy... I definitely didn’t see anything weird going on there."

During their conversation, Payne mentioned that he had moved to Wellington, Florida, earlier that summer, as it is known as the polo capital of the state. In his last social media posts, he expressed his excitement to engage in equestrian activities, particularly polo, while in Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy. "Honestly, polo out of everything I’ve ever done sports-wise… I’m just like I had to go for some fun," he shared in a video.

Isola reflects on how Payne’s demeanor showed he was searching for a way to reconnect with a more ordinary life. "He kept coming back over, engaging in conversation, and kept hugging me. He expressed a desire to help and seemed open to collaborating, portraying how he wanted to maybe reinvent himself," she recalled. "It felt like he was trying to have a normal life and was ready for a new chapter."

Liam, Parker, Funeral