Liam Payne 'smoked heroin, sexted fans and struggled with his identity': Singer's ex Maya Henry breaks her silence on his death as insiders make bombshell claims

Liam Payne's former fiancée Maya Henry has spoken out about the death of her ex for the first time four months after his death aged 31 in an explosive new interview, which claims the One Direction star used heroin and sexted fans. The Texan model, 23, said she loved Liam 'very much', but he was 'unrecognisable' while on drugs and she put herself in 'unsafe and harmful situations' as he battled addiction. They dated for three years before calling off their engagement in 2022.

Speaking to The Rolling Stone magazine, she said: 'Initially, it was the drug use and addictions that tore us apart. Anyone who has been with an addict understands how difficult that is. While I loved him deeply, he did things that hurt me in ways I'll never fully understand, and he continued to hurt me years after we broke up.'. According to an insider quote in the article, Maya didn't learn the full extent of Liam's drug use until near  the end of their relationship, with the source saying: 'It was normal for Liam to do cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and pharmaceutical pills (Xanax and pain pills). Then he got into smoking heroin.'.

Maya said that she hoped each drug-related incident would come as a 'wake up call' to him and she tried to be there to help the troubled star 'fix things'. Liam Payne 's former fiancée Maya Henry has spoken out about the death of her ex for the first time four months after his sudden death aged 31 in an explosive new interview, which claims the One Direction star used heroin and sexted fans. The Texan model, 23, said she loved Liam 'very much', but he was 'unrecognisable' while on drugs and she put herself in 'unsafe and harmful situations' as he battled addiction. They dated for three years before calling off their engagement in 2022 (pictured 2019).

Friends close to Maya have claimed to Rolling Stone that his behaviour was 'volatile', claiming he was 'seeking out drugs, sexting fans, and hiring sex workers'. She said: 'I knew there were parts of himself he was struggling with — parts of his identity he wasn't ready to fully face, even within our relationship.'. However, in the end Maya was unable to help the star, who went on to struggle with substance abuse in the years after their relationship.

Following Liam's death, Maya became the target of online trolls who unfairly said she was to blame for the death of the singer. Days before his death, Maya instructed lawyers to issue a cease and desist letter to the pop star after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her. Maya, who is said to be 'in shock' over Liam's death, has been defended by fans who have rushed to share messages of support in the comments section of her post.

Her supporters have jumped to her defence over vile comments which were posted online after Liam's death. Underneath her most recent Instagram picture, trolls posted sickening comments asking Maya if 'she was happy' and telling her the death was 'her fault'. Liam was found dead by police on October 16 following a fall from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. Maya said that she hoped each drug-related incident would come as a 'wake up call' to him and she tried to be there to help the troubled star 'fix things' (pictured in 2022).

After noticing the comments on her page, many shared their own more positive remarks, reminding Maya that the tragic events were not her fault. They read: 'For everyone in the comments attacking Maya, Liam's death isn't her fault. She's allowed to share the truth about their relationship and how he treated her. Victims are allowed to tell their stories. 'There is no way that anyone could've seen Liam's death coming. So y'all need to stop attacking her and leave her alone. It's not her fault.'.

Others read: 'Girl please take a break from social media if you need or mute the comments. You've done nothing wrong. Take your time to heal'; 'Just want you to know you are so loved and cared for we all stand with you Maya'; Turn your comments off'; 'It's not your fault';. 'Leave this woman alone. Y'all don't know what happened. Go pot condolences on his page, but why attack her? Grow up! Be respectful'; It's not your fault, please don't blame yourself';.

'People blaming her for Liam's death is so stupid. Victims are allowed to tell their stories, she couldn't have foreseen this death happening. You all need to grow up';. Just days before his death Maya accused the singer of obsessively contacting her friends and family including her mother Azteca Henry. The Strip That Down For Me singer was in a relationship with Kate Cassidy (pictured) before his untimely death.

Lawyers for the star told MailOnline: 'Maya Henry issued a cease and desist last week to Payne following the emergence of new and concerning information. 'She has retained attorneys Marco Crawford and Daniel Cerna to represent her. At this time, that is her only comment on the matter.'. Sharing a brutal assessment of Liam with her TikTok followers in October, Maya - the daughter of multi-millionaire personal-injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry - claimed he has gone to extraordinary lengths in an attempt to contact her.