Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson had secret meetings last year, according to a close friend. The One Direction singers reportedly met several times during the filming of Louis’ film “All of Those Voices,” which documents his journey’s highs and lows.

Charlie Lightening, the film’s director, shared an unseen photo of Liam and Louis on Instagram while paying tribute to the late singer. The film was released last year, suggesting that the secret meetings between Louis and Liam took place in 2023.

These interactions were not publicly known. Liam tragically passed away after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.

Liam Payne’s early ambition of being in another band before joining One Direction revealed after tragic death

Inside Liam Payne’s relationship with his 7-year-old son Bear after his tragic death

In his tribute, Charlie referred to Liam as a “lovely guy” and revealed he had been meeting with Louis last year. He wrote: “So sad, really shocked by the news. I met Liam a few times while shooting the film with Louis, lovely guy, sending love to his family and friends. RIP.”

Fans expressed their concern for Louis in the comments section of Charlie’s post, reports the Mirror. One fan wrote: “Check on louis pls… take care of him, we love him.”

Another said: “Thanks for your words, Charlie. Please, make sure Louis is safe, ok? I’m begging.” A third commented: “I’m literally numb right now. I don’t even know what to say.”

A fourth added: “I’m so sorry for that Charlie 🙁 Hope you and Louis are okay.”

Liam had previously opened up about his battle with alcoholism at the height of his fame, describing hitting “rock bottom” in a conversation with The Diary Of A CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett, before announcing in 2023 that he was sober after seeking treatment in rehab.

Following his passing, Katie Waissel, who appeared on the same season of The X Factor in 2010 alongside the other One Direction members, called for the “care and support necessary for the wellbeing of young artists” to be prioritized. The 38-year-old also shared on Instagram: “Liam, I am so deeply sorry for all that you went through. Your spirit will live on in the hearts of so many, and your story will continue to be told. The change the industry so desperately needs will come, and we will honour your legacy until it does. Keep singing in the sky, my friend.”

Following the heartbreaking news of Liam’s passing, Robbie Williams spoke out on the need for more compassion in the industry, telling Deadline, “Nothing seems to change and if isn’t me, then who? I am the problem if I do nothing. We are the problem if we don’t.”

In a Netflix documentary that aired earlier this year, he got candid about his own struggles with mental health and his battles with addiction after skyrocketing to fame as part of Take That. In a heartfelt Instagram tribute, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne lamented the failure of the music business to support the One Direction star during his time of need: “Liam, my heart aches. We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them? You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner.”

Liam Payne fans point out haunting detail in last photo and insist there is ‘hidden meaning’

Liam Payne fan reveals chilling confession he made to her just hours before his death

Starting his journey in the public eye, Liam first tried out for The X Factor at 14, crooning Frank Sinatra’s classic, Fly Me To The Moon, and two years later, at 16, he found himself being grouped with Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles to form what would become one of pop’s most successful boybands.

Post-mortem examinations revealed that Liam succumbed to multiple traumas with “internal and external haemorrhage”. The incident remains under investigation by Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16, labeled as an “inconclusive death”.