British boy band One Direction have been successfully staging their return to the music scene following the abrupt departure of Zayn Malik in the middle of one of their tours in Asia. While this rocked the core of the One Direction fandom, the members of the band quickly attempted to keep it together and complete the tour. Up until recently, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson have been receiving nothing but good words from the public.
However, things began to turn sour in a recent concert as Payne became the target of the LGBT community's wrath following a statement the group perceived as homophobic. Prior to the performance of One Direction's hit single, "Girl Almighty," the 21-year-old Payne provided a short introduction to the number in front of the crown in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday.
"It is about trying to find that number one woman of your life, which none of you can relate to because most of you are girls," said the One Direction band member, according to PEOPLE Magazine. Payne added, "Except for the boys in here, you know what I'm talking about." The said comment did not sit well with the LGBT community - with some going as far as attacking Payne's character for being a homophobe.
Fans of One Direction subsequently took to Twitter their disappointment over the comments of Payne. One fan wrote, "@Real_Liam_Payne It's homophobic to assume that girls can't like other girls or find their dream girl :/" While this Twitter post appears to be a simple slap on the wrist for the One Direction band member, other netizens were not so kind and considerate over the comments of Payne. The continuous attack on his character pushed the One Direction member to respond, according to New York Daily News.
"I am in no way shape or form [to be] homophobic that's a ridicules (sic) thing to say and I'm not here to offend people so take it as you will," wrote Payne on Twitter. He went on to say that "some people take things too literal" and labeled the homophobic accusations as "annoying," further stating that the netizens are making quite a big deal out of a "throw away statement." He then backtracked on his comments and proceeded to resolve the issue by sending an apology. Payne said, "I'm sorry to those I offended really I am but there's no need for some of the things I'm being called."
