In a headline that’s tugging at the heartstrings of fans across the globe, Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean has just revealed that he still has his final conversation with One Direction star Liam Payne saved on his phone — and the emotional weight of that revelation is sending social media into overdrive.
During a recent interview on a mental health podcast, McLean opened up about his long-standing friendship with Liam and the personal struggles they’ve both endured in the spotlight. But what caught fans completely off guard was AJ’s quiet confession that their last exchange — a conversation loaded with vulnerability, empathy, and mutual support — is still sitting untouched in his messages.
“I still have it,” McLean said, holding up his phone. “Our final text conversation… I read it sometimes, especially when I need reminding that I’m not alone. Liam and I connected in ways most people don’t see — beyond the fame, beyond the music.”
Fans instantly began speculating: Why final? What happened to the friendship? And does it hint at something deeper in Liam’s personal journey?
The news comes amid ongoing concerns about Liam Payne’s health and well-being. In recent years, Payne has spoken publicly about battling addiction and mental health issues, and his occasional absences from the public eye have sparked concern from loyal Directioners. This latest reveal adds a new emotional layer to his story — and possibly to McLean’s too.
What makes the revelation even more powerful is that McLean, who has also battled addiction and undergone multiple stints in rehab, didn’t share the story for drama or headlines — but as a heartfelt reminder of how crucial real connection is, especially in the entertainment industry’s often lonely and toxic landscape.
“He checked on me when I was at my lowest,” McLean said of Payne. “And I tried to do the same for him. That conversation meant something — still does.”
Twitter, of course, went full spiral mode. Fans from both fandoms began sharing clips, throwback interactions, and heartfelt tributes to the unexpected yet deeply relatable friendship between the two pop icons.
Whether or not AJ and Liam reconnect publicly remains to be seen. But for now, one thing is clear: their bond, immortalized in a few digital words, still echoes loudly. In a world of ghosted messages and broken connections, AJ McLean holding on to that conversation is proof that some friendships, however fleeting, do leave a lasting mark.
