The X Factor's Mary Byrne pays tribute to Liam Payne and reveals the late singer opened up to her about his struggles with fame: 'He went far too big, far too quick'

Mary Byrne, who appeared alongside Liam Payne on the X Factor in 2010, says she has found it hard to 'come to terms' with his tragic death. Mary Byrne, 64, who appeared alongside Liam Payne on the X Factor in 2010, says she has found it hard to 'come to terms' with his tragic death The One Direction singer plunged 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday aged 31 Irish singer Mary reached the ITV show's semi final while One Direction finished third 'He said "I am loving it, it is brilliant", But he said 'It is hard and it is not what I expected' those were the words he said.' Mary she last time spoke to Liam in 2018 and during their chat he opened up to her about his struggles with fame She said: 'I wouldn't say fame wasn't for him but I would say that they went far too big, far too quick, they literally burned out after five years' She said that Liam was 'finding it really tough' being stuck in hotel rooms as he toured the world and being unable to go out due to crowds of fans Liam admitted he had suffered for years with 'social anxiety' and 'stress' from being famous, and discussed the pressure his mental health was under 'So I had a party-for-one that seemed to carry on for many years of my life, and then you look back at how long you've been drinking? It comes after X Factor boss Simon Cowell faced a backlash over Liam's death, with contestant Katie Waissel declaring 'we all know the truth' and Rebecca Ferguson criticising the 'exploitation and profiteering of young stars'. It comes after X Factor boss Simon Cowell faced a backlash over Liam 's death, with contestant Katie Waissel declaring 'we all know the truth' and Rebecca Ferguson criticising the 'exploitation and profiteering of young stars' Katie, a 38-year-old singer-songwriter who auditioned alongside Liam on the 2010 series of X Factor, name-checked Cowell in two statements Rebecca Ferguson, who also appeared on X Factor in 2010 alongside Payne and Waissel, also intervened today Waissel, a 38-year-old singer-songwriter who also auditioned during the 2010 series, name-checked Cowell in two statements in which she accused music bosses of focusing on 'profits rather than people'.