Arisha Williams
Appearances
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
I honestly don't know how Liam handled that pressure so young. And at that age, that young, young, innocent, vulnerable age, it's a lot. It feels like when you think about it, extremely claustrophobic. Imagine that. You're almost a prisoner in your own planet.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
You had, obviously, so many strong individuals, because they were all solo artists coming into a group. Now, I guess, they're trying to fulfill their destiny of being solo.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
But I think that's actually what was charming about them, is that they didn't care. They were literally five young boys being boisterous.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
How do you deal with being in a position where he's going to have people in his ears going, well, look at Harry Styles, look how well he's doing. The comparisons actually are suffocating.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
Transitioning from a group into being a solo artist, you now have to go on a personal journey. That can't be rushed.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
I think the hard reality is when you're not the hottest thing anymore, you look around and all those people that were telling you you're amazing, you're great, they disappear.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
Liam, even though he was an adult when he passed, he was, in my mind, still just a kid. He was still a young man. And that's what's so sad. How did we get here?
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
I don't think any of us can put ourselves in a position of fame at the level of One Direction. There's gonna be a level of emotional stress and pressure that starts to seep into your psyche.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
I'm Arisha Williams. I was in The X Factor and also Liam Payne was in The X Factor that same year. It was the most competitive show I believe in the world. The year that I had auditioned, there was over 385,000 auditionees.
20/20
Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story -- A Special Edition of 20/20
He had a very mature voice, but for a very young kid.