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How Terror Management Theory Reversed Cancel Culture Postmortem: The Case of Liam Payne

Breanna Jimenez

Abstract 

This essay explores how terror management theory influenced the formation of, and tension between, ingroup and outgroups, following the death of former One Direction band member, Liam Payne. Through observing the timeline and negative media attention leading up to Payne’s death and contrasting it to the public perception and media coverage of the former singer following his death, I examine how the effects of “cancel culture” were objectively flipped.Drawing from the key concepts of ingroup and outgroups from social identity theory, as well as mortality salience, from terror management theory, I aim to find the intersection in how the reminder of death and one’s own vulnerability to death leads individuals to seek their sense of lost control in the formation and maintenance of ingroups, particularly within fanbases. I then take these dynamics a step further, exploring how in the face of death, the perception of who is in the socially acceptable ingroup and outgroup can be altered. This is in an attempt to identify the gaps in TMT research regarding the shifting of ingroup and outgroups social acceptance, power, and internal dynamics, as well as the effect of TMT on groups outside of an outlined shared cultural or ethnic background, applying it to fan culture.

Foundations and Understanding the Theoretical Framework

Introduction

“It is possible to provide security against other afflictions, but as far as death is concerned, we men all live in a city without walls.”(Epicurus)

The notion that we are going to die is not a new concept, nor foreign and hard to grasp. We are going to die, it is inevitable; however, how we cope with this awareness and knowledge is the foundation behind terror management theory. Terror management theory aims to explain how people deal with the fear of death through finding greater purpose and meaning in their lives (Svet, Portalupi, et.al, 2023). In an attempt to formulate security in the face of realizing one’s own vulnerability to death, many establish group dynamics to create and be a part of something much larger than themselves, as well as constitute a legacy that will outlive them as individuals.

The formation of these group dynamics is a concept from social identity theory, which postulates that people’s membership in social groups influences their behavior and thinking due to the internalization of group norms (Tajfel, 1986). Social identity theory further explores the impact of a larger group on the individual by arguing that a strong association with a group will lead to the formation of ingroup and outgroups, groups that contrast one another and create a sense of community, ingroups, or threaten that community’s stability, outgroups. The intersection between terror management theory and social identity theory is identified when individuals are confronted with their own mortality.

Marrying the two concepts together, with social identity theory’s (SIT) argument that individuals internalize the behavior of their larger group and derive personal fulfillment from it, and terror management theory’s (TMT) assumption that death elevates anxiety and the need to find greater meaning, the application is simple. When faced with death and the realization that as an individual we have little meaning and the ability to withstand time and being forgotten, individuals will cling to the ingroup in hopes of being a part of something “bigger” that has the chance to outlive them as a single person. This tight grasp onto the ingroup often results in tension between perceived outgroups, which threaten the stability and longevity of the ingroup. Such a pattern can be observed in the recent passing of former band member of One Direction, Liam Payne and fan’s responses to his death. This essay explores the question of what caused this extreme flip of public perception regarding Liam Payne? How did fans transition from their negative onslaughts online to uplifting and canonizing him in his death?

The world of pop music seemingly went quiet on October 16, 2024 when Liam Payne, former member of iconic pop boyband One Direction, fell to his death from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The two week stay came to an unfortunate and abrupt conclusion when Payne fell out of his three-story window in an assumed drug induced frenzy (Horowitz, 2024).

With the wound of the pop star’s death still fresh, fans took to social media and hosted vigils to mourn the loss of the beloved singer they grew up with. Celebrities and family members alike joined in as well, sharing their condolences expressing how devastated they were with this tragic loss. The tragedy of Payne’s death seemingly brought entire communities together in mourning, and it appeared as though there was a universal love for the pop star– but this was not the case just days before his death.

In the weeks and days leading up to his death, Liam Payne was under heavy scrutiny and in the midst of being canceled online due to speculation that his ex-fiance, Maya Henry’s, new book “Looking Forward,” which was marketed as being “inspired by true events,” was about him. The book, based on personal journals written during the pandemic and in the midst of a former relationship, follows Mallory, an aspiring model, as she falls into a whirlwind romance with British pop star, Oliver, who is struggling with his stalling career. The novel covered many hard hitting issues including substance abuse, domestic abuse, and abortion (Gelt, 2024). Henry’s shedding light on these serious issues in the context of her relationship with Liam Payne forced fans to view him in an entirely different way. Pairing these newfounds realizations and speculated truths, videos of Payne’s behavior at former band members’ concerts left fans labeling him as “narcissistic” and “trapped in the past” (destineemariah_, 2024). It seemed as if his public image was irredeemable, however after his death these attitudes entirely flipped.

Fans that were formerly defending Maya Henry’s “bravery” for sharing her story turned on her for “being at fault” for Payne’s passing (HT Entertainment Desk, 2024), and internet users who were previously making fun of Liam for holding onto his former One Direction stardom claimed he was “the only one who still cared about all the boys” (Love_Ame77, 2024). Such behaviors have led to the foundational question that led to the formation of this essay, what caused this extreme flip of public perception regarding Liam Payne? How did fans transition from their negative onslaughts online to uplifting and canonizing him in his death?

This essay explores how terror management theory influenced the formation of, and tension between, ingroup and outgroups, following the death of former One Direction band member, Liam Payne. Through observing the timeline and negative media attention leading up to Payne’s death and contrasting it to the public perception and media coverage of the former singerfollowing his death, I examine how the effects of “cancel culture” were objectively flipped. Drawing from the key concepts of ingroup and outgroups from social identity theory, as well as mortality salience, from terror management theory, I aim to find the intersection in how the reminder of death and one’s own vulnerability to death leads individuals to seek their sense of lost control in the formation and maintenance of ingroups. I then take these dynamics a step further, exploring how in the face of death, the perception of who is in the socially acceptable ingroup and outgroup can be altered, this is in an attempt to identify gaps in TMT research regarding the shifting of ingroup and outgroups social acceptance, power, and internal dynamics, as well as the effect of TMT on groups outside of an outlined shared cultural or ethnic background, applying it to fan culture.

Theoretical Framework

Social Identity Theory

Social identity theory, emerging very narrowly as a theory introduced by Henri Tejfel and colleagues in the 1970s, originally aimed to explain intergroup relations as well as conflict and cooperation between such groups (Tajfel, Turner, 1979). Over time however, the theory has developed into a much broader social psychological theory that examines the role of self and individual identity in relation to group and intergroup interaction (Hogg, et.al 2017). Social identity theory is rooted within its exploration of how individual identities influence intergroup and overall group dynamics and conflict. Henri Tajfel, a Polish Jew who lost a majority of his family to the Holocaust, was fascinated with uncovering why group conflicts unfold, and how the shared identities within groups influence and uphold such interactions (Reicher).

In an attempt to understand the formation of group dynamics, the following stages of group development and interaction were identified: social categorization, social identification, and social comparison. Social categorization consists of individuals categorizing themselves and others into social groups based on attributes and shared experiences. Following the placement of individuals into categories, social identification takes its course. Social identification entails the adoption of the identity and behaviors of the group that individuals have been assigned to.

Such an investment and strong identification with a group leads to the establishment of an emotional significance, self-esteem, and sense of security. These strong feelings of solidarity translate into strong comparison, at times tensions and conflict between groups identified as “other.” (McLeod, 2023). This social comparison has led to the emergence of a key distinction in the theory, the idea of ingroup and outgroups, as well as the dynamics they have with one another.

Ingroups are classified as a singular group that all share a core belief or idea, whereas outgroups are identified as a group that holds a contrasting view, or individuals that fall into such a group, therefore making them outside the cultural norm and solidarity (Linville & Fischer, 1993). Through Tajfel’s classification and definition of social identity theory, an individual’s simple knowledge that they belong to a certain group, regardless of their emotional connection to the group, filled them with a sense of value and significance (Tajfel, 1972). Social groups and membership in them, allow members to be a part of a larger collective that share an identity, which has the power to evaluate and even at times dictate, how they should act. These shared identities and established dynamics highlight how the ingroup differs from outgroups. To put it simply, an ingroup is a group in which those in it all share a commonality and therefore are perceived as belonging, leading to preferential treatment. In contrast, the outgroup consists of anyone that does not belong to the ingroup, leading to members being more negatively viewed and at times receiving inferior treatment (Castano, et. al 2002). At the core of ingroups is a shared commonality amongst the individuals within the group, however the outgroup poses a unique counter to that solidarity, oftentimes heightening an individual’s need to protect and place great value in association with the ingroup.

The Emergence of Social Identity Over the Self

The emergence of social identity theory placed an emphasis on the importance of group dynamics and identity, however this brought into question the historical psychological emphasis on the importance of personal identity. In an attempt to mirror the two findings and research, the concept of self-categorization theory was born. Self-categorization theory argues that people’s self concepts consist of both individual identity, how one perceives and views themselves outside of a group, and social identity, that of which is derived from group dynamics (Leaper, 2011). Taking a deeper look into the formation and dynamics within ingroups, social identity theory posits that varying degrees of one’s own self-confidence and esteem is rooted within the importance and relevance placed upon their group and perceived group membership (Turner & Oaks, 1986). This investment in group affiliation is based within the group providing individuals with shared goals or values, which in turn provides direction and purpose to members. This sense of purpose and success obtained from group achievement boost individuals’ self esteem and sense of pride, leading to a stronger association with that group since positive feelings are the outcome and a positive perception of the group has been created. (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) Moreover, the positive self perception and feelings gained from group association results in a high sense of importance being placed upon group membership. This emphasis leads individuals within the group to associate the group as central to their self concept, resulting in the sustainment and protection of that group.

Although the upkeep of the group could be perceived as a positive outcome, it does not come without its own negative effects. The increased significance placed upon the group and group identity often leads to a loss of investment in one’s personal identity. When an increased emphasis is placed upon social identity, group stereotyping and prejudice has a higher likelihood of occurring (Leaper, 2011). This susceptibility toward outgroup conflict has led to the emergence of the key term, “intergroup bias,” which is the favoring of one’s group over others and proneness toward outgroup discrimination (Koehler, 2024). The loss of self within a group often leads to a “mob mentality” which places an importance on collective action in identifying and protecting the ingroup against outgroups.

Terror Management Theory

Another popular psychological theory used to explain human behavior is terror management theory. Terror management theory was born primarily from the work of Ernest Becker and his renowned 1973 book, “The Denial of Death.” Becker argues that humans fear the inevitability of their death, and therefore in order to avoid and cope with the notion of their own impermanence, adopt and construct worldviews to seek meaning and long lasting value in life (Arndt et al., 2009). Becker’s research of how people cope with this anxiety led to the formation of a key concept of terror management theory, mortality salience, which is an individual’s realization of the inevitability of death (Liu, et.al, 2021).

Sprouting from this key concept of becoming aware of our own mortality, the theory laterdeveloped to further explore how people manage this anxiety. Some individuals avoid thinking about death altogether, while the thought of dying leads others to devote this energy elsewhere, leaving many with a sense of need to create a legacy for themselves so that they may achieve some form of immortality. This need for permanence in the face of our mortality manifests itself into many coping methods such as the adoption and clinging, to worldviews and symbols, as well as the creation of groups providing individuals with a sense of security and permanence (Greenberg, el.al, 1990). With these beliefs, created in anxiety and the need for security, are threatened, by the reminder of death or other individuals jeopardize them, those holding them experience an increase in anxiety and therefore seek to reinforce their worldviews (Castano, 2002). Such a fear of death and need to create something that outlives oneself often leads to the formation of groups based on similarities in held beliefs and a sense of belonging, a foundational idea from social identity theory.

Finding Meaning in Protecting the Ingroup: The Intersection Between TMT and SIT

Both social identity theory and terror management theory argue that people derive a sense of meaning and security from acceptance into a social ingroup, terror management takes this sense of security a step further by asserting that being in a group helps individuals cope with death and create something that will outlive them.

Looking through the lens of terror management theory and mortality salience, the individual identity, identified as an important factor in social identity theory, is linked to a singular individual, and is finite in the face of death; social identities, in contrast, are abstract and “not subject to the same mortal fate.” (Castano, et.al). The formation of ingroups is rooted within regaining a sense of control restoration that is lost when individuals are exposed to mortality salience. To put it simply, “…the ultimate function of ingroup… is to soothe existential anxiety” (Agroskin & Jonas, 2014). Ingroup formation in the face of death often leads to a stronger sense of solidarity since individuals are attempting to create something that will outlive them as a single person. Beliefs held by a single individual are prone to dying out since they do not have a strong likelihood of outlasting the individual in death, however ingroups allow the multiplication of such beliefs, allowing for the potential of them, and by association the individual, to outstand death (Fritsche, et al., 2008). In the words of the foundational terror management theory scholar Jeff Greenberg, “… in order to symbolically transcend death (individuals will identify) with entities that will continue to exist long after the individual’s personal death.” (Greenberg, et al., 2008). Such a strong solidarity, although creating a collective and restoring some sense of control, frequently leads to outgroup tension and conflict.

Social identity theory’s classification of outgroups poses a unique challenge to ingroups attempting to establish themselves with longevity in mind; they threaten the integrity and life of the ingroup, which, as outlined by terror management theory, stirs up feelings of anxiety. By even just having conflicting ideas or beliefs with the ingroup, questions the very existence of the ingroup and their ideas. “TMT postulates that the mere existence of others with different cultural worldviews constitutes a threat to our delicate and unstable symbolic system of meaning.” (Catano, Emanuele, et al., 2002). The threatening image of outgroups leads those within ingroups to defend and support their group, a phenomena in which scholar Dmitriji Agroskin aims to explain is rooted within such individuals grappling for a sense of control in the uncontrollable chasm lingering of death. Moreover, while social identity theory postulates that individuals’ strong association with their ingroup leads to tensions between groups, terror management theory argues that such tension and conflict is rooted within ingroups feeling as though the integrity and longevity of their group is being threatened by outgroups.

Social identity theory’s argument that individuals derive a large sense of self from being in a group is further amplified by terror management’s assumption that individuals will not only cling to the ingroup to symbolically transcend death, but to establish a sense of importance.Outgroup discrimination, a symptom of the reinforcement of the ingroups cultural significance and norms, often leads to the belief that the ingroup is superior to outgroups. This sense of superiority allows individuals to establish and increase their perceived self-importance, with their group relations allowing them to believe that their life has meaning even though their death is inevitable (Agroskin, Jonas, 2014). Because their social identity plays such a key role in the development of a positive self image in the face of death, one that will allow them to find meaning in their lives and symbolically escape the clutches of death, individuals will be more prone to protecting their ingroup against the perceived threat of outgroups, a concept that further showcases TMT’s intersection with SIT.

In understanding the above theories, it can be recognized that both social identity theory and terror management theory explore how humans grapple with existential anxiety and the need to create a strong identity. Social identity theory’s analysis of ingroup and outgroup dynamics postulates that group identification is rooted within creating a positive self-concept and sense of security, and that such an emphasis on the group often leads to intergroup conflict and bias.Terror management theory then takes these dynamics a step further by arguing that the dynamics observed within social identity theory are amplified by the recognition of our own mortality. The theory argues that humans seek to transcend their temporary individual life by attaching to symbolic immortality within their ingroups, ensuring that their beliefs, values, and sense of self can outlast their physical existence. This preference of ingroups is further amplified by mortality salience, which leads ingroups to feel threatened and a need to defend against outgroups.

The intersection between the two theories highlights how the desire to preserve the integrity of one’s ingroup is driven by both existential anxiety and the need for self-importance, and often leads to outgroup discrimination. The tension observed between ingroups and outgroups is not just a byproduct of the clashing of beliefs, but a defensive response to a perceived threat to group security. Such dynamics of clinging to the ingroup and developing a bias toward the outgroup in an attempt to establish a sense of individual and group security can be observed in the case study of former One Direction star, Liam Payne and the fan dynamics that played out before and after his death.

It’s Inevitable Everything That’s Good Comes to an End: Cancel Culture

Before delving into the application of the concepts from social identity theory and terror management theory, it is important to understand another cultural concept for the case study of Liam Payne, cancel culture. The rise of social media and internet usage has shifted the way people share their opinions and disagree with one another. Rooted within the public response to such opinions, “cancel culture” has emerged. Cancel culture is a large phenomena occurring on social platforms, particularly digital platforms, and it aims to “remove celebrity status or esteem from a person, place, or thing based on offensive behavior or transgression” (Vogels, Anderson, et.al, 2021). The last part of the definition, “offensive behavior or transgression,” is open to interpretation by whichever group is doing the canceling, however often has roots in “wokeness” and social perceptions of what is offensive. Public shaming and mob mentality is at the heart of cancel culture, which is what makes social media platforms so effective for removing celebrity status from individuals.

Although social media did not begin the trend of “canceling people” for their actions, it has made such actions more publicized. The increasing usage of internet platforms such as Instagram, X, and TikTok, has led to a rise of social media influencers, a subgenre of “celebrity status” individuals that many argue are replacing the traditional celebrities (Hacking, 2023). Celebrities are gaining their fame, and accessing their fanbase and exposure, through social media and the internet. This tactic of maintaining fame has begun rooting celebrities to the internet in order to sustain and grow in relevance. Moreover, the rising usage of social media has led individuals’ current and previous posts, actions, and interactions to be permanently documented and accessible by internet users around the globe. With so many things being documented, with many to view them, and celebrities becoming increasingly tethered to their online persona and fanbases, it is no surprise that cancel culture has become so popular on the internet. If you are on the internet and majority of your fame is serviced from social media, it is easier to be “deplatformed.”

The sharing of social media content and opinions has added fuel to fire regarding cancel culture. It is easy for negative reactions and comments to be shared and multiplied in a matter of minutes. News spreads fast on the wide web, and so do negative feelings spurred by the internet, an occurrence that can be observed in the case of One Direction star Liam Payne’s online presence before his death, and the dramatic shift that occurred postmortem.

Pop Culture Deep Dive

You and Me Got a Whole Lot of History: One Direction and Why They Matter 

Liam Payne, former member of the sensational band One Direction and an icon in the 2010s for young teen girls, made a shocking appearance on headlines that shook the internet to its core. On October 16, 2024 it was reported that he had fallen to his death out of a three story window from the hotel he was staying at in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Rackham & Youngs, 2024). Online platforms were overcome with celebrities and fans, new and old, mourning the loss of the singer. Although Liam Payne’s death and the events that occurred after his death are at the heart of this case study and application of the theoretical framework, it is important to understand the heights of fame he reached in the band One Direction and as an individual, which lead to his death having the impact it did on fans around the world.

Long before his rise to fame with fellow band members in One Direction, Liam Payne knew he wanted to be a singer. Payne held ambitious pursuits of being a singer like his idols, and was committed to doing so. Before his fellow bandmates had their first solo audition on The X Factor, a British reality show and music competition (IMBd), Liam Payne had already had his first audition at just 14. Payne was eventually cut by the third round of auditions for being “too young,” however Simon Cowell, a notoriously hard to impress judge and harsh critic on the show, was thoroughly impressed by young Payne’s singing ability and urged him to return in two years when he was older (Coleman, 2024). From his first appearance on the show, it was clear that Liam had potential and a passion for singing. Before his audition Payne stated that “When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time. I should really be concentrating on my work but I think about singing too much. It’s a dream, I’d love to do it” (mailFX08, 2008).

Since their first appearance as a group on the show, it was clear that One Direction was a fan favorite and destined for something big. One Direction, often referred to as 1D for short, wasan English-Irish pop boy band formed in 2010, originally consisting of members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. The formation of the band followed each of the members’ failure to advance beyond the second stage of auditions following their solo audition on The X Factor. Their individual elimination led long-time judge Simon Cowell and guest judge Nicole Scherzinger to selecting the boys and placing them together so that they may qualify for the “group” category of the show (Kelly, 2011). At the time, the UK had a deficit of notable and popular boy bands, leading to the perfect opportunity for the band’s path to success (Sherman, 2020). Payne’s audition and palpable charisma led him to being the first member selected by Nicole Scherzinger and identified as the “leader” of the newly formed One Direction, claiming that “he was the standout audition” (Grow, 2024). Scherzinger’s vision was brought to life with the band’s debut on the show where Liam was choreographed as the obvious leader, coming out of the middle and singing the opening verse of the song, leading fans to erupt into screams (The X Factor UK, 2010). One Direction ended up being among the last contestants eliminated and placing third overall, however the end of their time on the show was only the beginning of their stardom. The growing prominence of the internet, and the boys’ exposure from online media in the UK covering the show, allowed the band to begin establishing a strong fanbase for themselves (Greenwood, 2020).

One Direction released their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful,” in September 2011, and it quickly became a commercial and international success. It was the most pre-ordered Sony Music Entertainment single in history, reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, and became the fastest growing single of the year (BBC News, 2011). When the single made its way to the United States it faced the same levels of success, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 28, leading to it becoming the highest debut for a British act since 1998 (Caulfiel, 2012).The song would continue to gain popularity and maintain relevance, selling more than 4.8 million copies in the United States and over seven million copies worldwide by 2016, five years after its initial release. Following the success of their first single, the band released their first studio album, “Up All Night,” which mirrored the same levels of popularity as their debut single. The album took the world by storm, with its success leading One Direction to becoming the first UK group to have their debut record reach number one in the US. It also became the first boy band album to sell more than 500,000 digital copies, and a year after its release it has already sold more than three million copies worldwide (Needham, 2012). One Direction quickly became the “internet’s boy band,” with their legendary success earning them credibility amongst NSYNC and Backstreet Boys.

Throughout their career, the band released 5 studio albums, 10 EPs, and 17 singles and accumulated nearly 200 awards including seven American Music Awards, 28 Teen Choice Awards, and two Artist of the Year awards. (One Direction Wiki Fandom). They were named the best-selling artist in the world in 2013, and were ranked as the fourth highest-earning celebrities in the world in 2015 by Forbes magazine. Just a year later they were labeled as the second highest earning celebrities (Forbes). The awards and accolades that display the impact One Direction had on the music industry are just a few examples of the band’s immense influence.

One Direction’s growing, and still ever present, success led to them developing a large and dedicated fan base, with the growing use of social media bolstering their fame and helping establish them as “one of the great[est] rock bands of the 21st century” (Blistein, 2020). The band’s utilization of social media was calculated, and included their sharing of unedited and “unfiltered” videos from their days on X-Factor and tour, a tactic that allowed fans to feel much closer to the members than they actually were. Fans developed a seemingly parasocial relationship with the band that led to a clear devotion and love to evolve amongst fans. The power of the fans cannot be underestimated however. One Direction’s fan base of self proclaimed “Driectioners” is often credited as the creators of “stan Twitter,” a large section of Twitter (now X) that is composed of fans showing support and talking about celebrities (Wilson, 2018). The band is often associated with a much larger cultural phenomena of fan culture, as well as credited with the resurgence of boy bands throughout the early 2010s. There was, and still is, simply no denying the impact of One Direction’s stardom. The band had a six year run that experienced fame, fortune, and popularity that had not been seen since “Beatlemania” (Blistein, 2020).

The band’s generational run came to an unexpected halt in August 2015, when the band announced an extended hiatus following the release of what would be their final album and the exit of band member Zayn Malik earlier that year (Penrose, 2024). The hiatus announcement also announced that each member would take the time of their “break” to pursue solo interests and projects. Each of the members faced various levels of acceptance and success in their solo projects after the breakup, with Liam Payne’s career seeming to dry up post band days.

Application and the Case of Liam Payne

Does it Ever Drive You Crazy, Just How Fast the Night Changes?: The Case of Liam Payne 

Following his height of fame through One Direction, Liam Payne, although maintaining a steady group of fans from his days in the band, faced a gradual decline in his popularity. Payne post One Direction simply fell short of what was envisioned for him by others and himself.Regarding music, the former band member only released one album titled “LP1.” Although releasing many singles, often duets alongside other climbing names in the music industry, hismost successful song, “Strip That Down” featuring rapper Quavo came from “LP1.” The song peaked at number ten on Billboard’s Hot 100 (Lawless, 2024), much different than what he was used to in his One Direction days and a slight deviation from the levels of success his former bandmates saw in their solo journeys.

Although struggling to make his projects garner the same attention his music and songwriting capabilities had had in his past One Direction days, Liam Payne was effective in keeping his name in the headlines, though not always in the most positive light. Following his days in the band, Payne faced several harsh criticisms and “cancellations” including when he accused former bandmate, Zayn Malik, of throwing him against a wall during a fight which then spiraled into him making comments on Zayn’s past controversies during an interview on the “Impaulsive” podcast (Blistein, 2022). That same year, fans posted a picture that they assumed was Payne and his fiance Maya Henry in a loving embrace, with the caption talking about how cute the pair was. The picture was confirmed to not be Maya after she commented on the post, “I love all of the fans so much but please stop sending me these pictures of my fiance wrapped around another woman” (etimes.in, 2022). This then flung Payne into a cheating scandal that, although angering fans, was not enough to completely deplatform him. Despite Liam still having a fanbase and popularity after these scandals, fans did not forget them, and the drama seemed to be building to a breaking point. This breaking point in Payne’s career was observable in the weeks leading up to his death.

Just two weeks before his death, Liam Payne attended former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Jakiel, 2024). Payne publicly stated that he was visiting Argentina to support Horan and “resolve a couple of things,” however this was not what wasreceived by fans. Fans recounting the experience, and internet fans commenting on videos that have been shared, labeled Payne as an “attention seeker” who was at the concert for self gain. Videos were recorded of Payne leaning over the edge of the glass barrier from his private box throughout the performance to take pictures with, dance, and talk to fans (Norton, 2024). Fans across social media platforms negatively commented on how Liam was “stuck in the past” and “looking for attention.”

The negative emotions surrounding Payne’s behavior were then elevated following his ex-fiance, Maya Henry coming out with her fictional book that was loosely inspired by her relationship with the former 1D member, “Looking Forward” (Siwak, 2024). The book covers several heavy topics such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and abortion. The book follows main character, Mallory, in a turbulent relationship with her pop star boyfriend, Oliver, who is grappling with his receding fame. In the book, Mallory discovers she is pregnant, however Oliver, upset by this, gives Mallory an ultimatum of keeping the baby or keeping him in her life. Mallory decides to go through with the abortion but has complications and ends up having to drive herself to the hospital, an event Maya said is very close to the reality she faced. The book also explores Oliver’s suicidal behavior and how he threatened to kill himself in drug induced paranoia episodes, which would often lead to him verbally and physically abusing Mallory (Gelt, 2024). Maya’s reality was not far off. In October 2024 she took to TikTok to share how Liam continued to harass her and her family following their breakup alleging “Ever since we broke up he messages me, will blow up my phone. Not only from his phone, it’s always from different phone numbers too, so I never know where it’s gonna come from.” She also disclosed how he would send her and her family inappropriate pictures performing “disturbing acts” to himself (Siwak, 2024). Fans were in uproar about the topics covered in Maya’s book, and disheartenedby the idea that she had to endure such events at the hands of Liam, which led many fans to turn against him.

The final nail in the coffin for Payne’s career seemed to be the resurfacing of his online messages with young girls, which raised extreme questions about the established power dynamics he was manipulating for personal gain. Accusations follow Maya’s TikTok video where she accused Liam of “preying on One Direction fans because they’re loyal to him” (The Express Tribune, 2024). Henry’s claims have a bit more bite when you discover that she herself used to be a “Directioner” and began dating the singer when she was freshly 18. These claims have forced fans to contemplate their own relationships with the once glorified singer and come to terms with how the person they have put on a pedestal since 2010 may not be the person they imagined.

Many fans took to social media to express their anger at Liam Payne, calling for a public cancellation and deplatforming of him. One fan took to social media platform “X” to state “liam payne who was pushing 30 at the time started dating and abusing maya henry when she was18-19 (fresh out of high school btw) she has every right to talk shit about him and i hope she continues exposing his nasty ass” (The Express Tribune, 2024). Many fans came forward about their own experience with Liam Payne inappropriately texting them for years, with one such individual coming forward with screenshots and tweeting “As a victim of being preyed on at the age of 19 by Liam Payne let’s cancel his ass for good!!!” (The Express Tribune, 2024). Former fans and internet users who were attempting to deplatform Liam Payne became the majority on the internet, often shaming and frowning upon individuals who were still supporting the pop singer after all these negatives were exposed. It is important to note that the dynamics observed and fan opinions are not all black and white and that there were some nuanced opinions regarding this situation and the internet’s response. However, for the purpose of this paper I will be focusing on the two primary groupings that emerged from this pop culture event.

The above observed dynamics of former fans attempting to deplatform Payne and the minority group of fans attempting to salvage his image and career directly mirror the concepts of ingroups and outgroups, a key concept from social identity theory. Ingroups are described as a group where all members share a commonality, and therefore are perceived as belonging, leading to preferential treatment. In contrast, the outgroup consists of anyone that does not belong to the ingroup, leading to members being more negatively viewed and at times receiving inferior treatment (Castano, et. al 2002). To understand the application of group dynamics in this particular case study of Liam Payne, it is important to identify which group is the in and which is the out. The identified groups can be classified as follows: the ingroup consists of individuals moving to cancel the singer, hold him accountable for his actions, and showcase him in a “negative” light, whereas the outgroup includes individuals and fans attempting to salvage Payne’s career through defending him despite his behavior and portraying him in a more “positive” manner. For simplicity in referencing the two groups throughout this application portion, the ingroup will be identified as the “cancel culture troop” and the outgroup will be identified as “protective fans.”

Understanding the group dynamics above, the application can be taken a step further to assess the argument that ingroup and outgroup dynamics often lead to competition and conflict. SIT postulates that a strong association and sense of identity derived from a group often leads to the protection and clinging to the ingroup, often at a toxic cost that results in outgroup tension and unwavering defense of the ingroup. Such actions can result in behaviors like intergroup aggression, prejudice, and hostility. SIT postulates that groups, especially ingroups, seek tomaximize their relative status and may engage in behaviors that create or exacerbate conflict with outgroups (Castano, et.al, 2002). We can see intergroup conflict unfold between the cancel culture troop (ingroup) and protective fans (outgroup) through the online aggressive actions displayed by the ingroup. The cancel culture troop ran a social media campaign across various platforms to cancel Liam Payne, and when protective fans would try to speak out in the singer’s defense they were met with their own mini version of being canceled. Those attempting to defend the former One Direction star were met with death threats and targeted attacks from the ingroup. Meanwhile, individuals attempting to deplatform Liam Payne were seen as noble and in the right, seeing as though they were defending victims against unfair power dynamics. This case of intergroup conflict and interaction showcases how the ingroup often exerts a large amount of energy to make sure that they maintain preferential treatment and a positive perception so that the group may remain, even if this occurs at the expense of the outgroup.

With fans coming forward about their own experiences, and a large portion of the internet fully turning against Payne, it seemed as if his fate of being canceled was here to stay. However, that wasn’t the case at all. The world of pop music seemingly went quiet in disbelief when Liam Payne died on October 16 at just age 31 after falling from a third story hotel balcony in Argentina. Despite dying from internal and external hemorrhaging, his toxicology results showcased he had large amounts of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system during the time of his death (Horowitz, 2024). The substances in his body were a sure sign that he had broken his year of sobriety that he had celebrated earlier in 2024. Fans came together, across social media platforms and in person to mourn the death of the singer. The seemingly concrete hatred built against Liam was completely reversed in the face of his death,with news media and fans alike remembering the singer as someone who was a “fighter” and “caring individual.” As fans processed the death of someone who had been a formative figure in their lives—someone they had grown up with and held a lot of impact on them—the collective response revealed the deep psychological need to reestablish order and meaning in their world, exposing a grappling need for establishing control. TMT posits that in the face of mortality salience, individuals often engage in behaviors that defend their cultural worldview and reinforce the social identities that offer them meaning and comfort (Fritsche, et al., 2008). For many fans, defending the image of Liam Payne from being a figure associated and “marred” with scandal and controversy to one of vulnerability and kindness became a way to resist the chaos of the unpredictable situation and uncomfortable realization of death they found themselves in.

Terror management theory argues that beliefs held by a single individual are prone to dying out since they do not have a strong likelihood of outlasting the individual in death, however ingroups allow the multiplication of such beliefs, therefore providing them with the potential to outstand death (Fritsche, et al., 2008). In the words of the foundational terror management theory scholar Jeff Greenberg, “… in order to symbolically transcend death [individuals will identify] with entities that will continue to exist long after the individual’s personal death.” (Greenberg, et al., 2008). This idea of “clinging to the ingroup” can be observed within individuals completely flipping their attitudes toward Liam Payne in his death. Before his death, the “cancel culture troop” (former ingroup) had been adamant about holding Payne accountable for his actions, portraying him as an abuser, narcissist, and predator. However, postmortem, a significant number of those same fans underwent a shift in identity, opting to protect and honor his legacy instead. TMT suggests that such shifts in group identity are motivated by the fundamental need to restore a sense of control and order in the face of death.By reconceptualizing Liam as a misunderstood figure that was a “tortured soul suffering in silence” rather than an abuser, fans could symbolically transcend the anxiety of mortality byre-establishing a sense of collective meaning through their support of him. This renewed sense of purpose acted as a way to reaffirm their belief in the goodness and value of their former idol, thereby mitigating the existential anxiety brought on by his death. Although such a strong consensus in defending Liam Payne’s image postmortem led to group dynamics shifting and a strong ingroup to be formed in the defense of Payne, this was again at the expense of the outgroup, those who were still trying to hold Liam accountable for his actions.

The former socially acceptable ingroup of “cancel culture troopers,” who were defending victims of Liam’s abuse and alleged selfishness, became the outgroup as the new ingroup, fans defending the honor and legacy of the late singer, emerged. Protective fans took to social media to reverse the effects of cancel culture that had “wrongfully” pushed Payne to the edge. Fans felt a great sense of guilt believing that “Liam died thinking the world hated him” (slaterss, 2024). Fans took to flooding Henry’s social media accounts and comments blaming her for the singer’s death and wishing harmful things upon her. One such fan took to “TikTok” and posted a video with the caption “Dear Maya Henry and everyone who supports her,” which had an audio background that repeatedly said “fuck yourself, and fuck you, and fuck you…” (ayamike3_, 2024). Mourning the loss of their beloved singer, fans began to also point the blame toward former One Direction members as well, claiming that Liam was the only one who truly cared about the boys. The former narrative that Payne would only attend his bandmates concerts and premiers because he was clinging to fame and looking for validation were put to rest with the argument that “he never stopped caring about them” becoming the prominent story thread. Liam Payne had effectively erased the titles of abuser, selfish, and attention seeker from his image post death, and had replaced them with characteristics of kindness, and being a tortured soul who just needed help.

Terror management theory argues that in the face of death, individuals will cling to the ingroup and fight for the longevity of it because they are reminded of their own mortality, which was displayed in the beginning formation of these new dynamics in the case of Liam Payne. The formation of such ingroups is rooted within regaining a sense of control restoration that is lost when individuals are exposed to this mortality salience, however such a strong solidarity, although creating a collective and restoring some sense of control, frequently leads to outgroup tension and conflict. “TMT postulates that the mere existence of others with different cultural worldviews constitutes a threat to our delicate and unstable symbolic system of meaning.” (Catano, Emanuele, et al., 2002). It is very obvious that tensions were amplified in the face of Liam’s death, as fans sent death threats and hate comments to all parties who were being previously defended before his death and in the wake of his scandal. The existence of the outgroup, those trying to hold Payne accountable for his actions and deplatform him even in death, threatened the image that fans were trying to uphold of Payne. The backlash against those who attempted to maintain a critical stance against Payne’s image became a defensive response deployed by those triggered with mortality salience. This fear, rooted in the collective anxiety of confronting the uncomfortable truth that the Liam Payne fans believed in, was actually quite flawed and mortal. As TMT posits, these tensions between ingroups and outgroups escalate when the symbolic meaning of the ingroup is challenged, as fans’ need to safeguard the meaning and value of their support for Payne became stronger than their willingness to confront the uncomfortable truths about his behavior.

Conclusion

The tragic case of Liam Payne’s life and death highlights the powerful and often volatile dynamics of fan and celebrity culture, as well as displays key concepts from both social identity theory and terror management theory. Payne’s scandals and the subsequent public backlash that followed showcases the complex interplay between ingroup and outgroup dynamics, as well as the role of cancel culture in shaping public perception. Through the lens of social identity theory we see how fans aligned with either the “cancel culture troop” or the “protective fans,” both fiercely defending their positions and engaging in hostile interactions with opposing groups when they were in the favored ingroup. This division was further amplified and flipped by his death. Through the lens of terror management theory, it can be understood that fan’s awareness of mortality brought on by Payne’s death prompted fans to reclaim his image as a way of transcending their own existential fears. In doing so, they formed a new ingroup based on the notion of protecting his legacy, ultimately reversing the negative perceptions that were seemingly defining his last weeks alive.

Although social identity theory and terror management theory explain why these group dynamics were formed in the case of Liam Payne, the theory fails to explain why there was such a stark shift in the public perception of who was in the perceived ingroups and outgroups. This public shift in perception calls for deeper research and questioning of terror management theory’s current position to address both public perception of group formation, as in who determines who is the ingroup and who is the out, and also calls for deeper research in understanding why such extreme flips in perception and “having the upper hand” can take course, as seen in the case of Liam Payne. Moreover, the case of Liam Payne also points out a large hole in the theory’s lack of addressing the impact of the role of social media and fan culture or collectives that are not rooted within a shared traditional cultural or ethnic background, but rather a shared connection to a figure or pop culture phenomenon. Ultimately, the case of Liam Payne demonstrates how the boundaries of social groups and identities are fluid, particularly in the digital age, where public opinion can be swayed by collective emotional responses, and calls for more research into these theoretical gaps to be addressed.

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Reflective Essay

I am applying for the Best Writing Studies Paper Award with a research paper written in my previous WRT-106 class, which had a focus on pop culture. The idea behind the paper was to apply a theoretical framework to a pop culture event in order to explore and understand the dynamics within the phenomena through a different lens. Being a pop culture fanatic, I decided that choosing an event would be the easiest jumping off point for my research. Around this time the death of singer Liam Payne, former One Direction member, was very big in the media so I decided on that. Understanding that I needed to go more niche in order to apply a theoretical framework, I chose to narrow my research on the fan dynamics that followed Payne pre and posthis death.

Knowing my pop culture topic, I transitioned to selecting a theory to apply. From class readings, I found myself very interested in the concept of Terror Management Theory (TMT) and decided to choose that framework as a jumping off point. As I utilized the library’s databases and read scholarly articles I discovered that there was a clear intersection between TMT social identity theory (SIT). The identification of this crossing helped me understand what content I needed for my essay as I began my research process.

The library and the librarians, both in-person and online, were imperative to my research, as they both introduced and provided me with the essential tools and resources to conduct my research. This research project was my introduction to AU’s Library, as well as the various databases and journals available. Through library instruction I was informed on how to find and utilize these resources effectively, particularly how to search databases since that was something I had never had access to at my high school. Through library instruction I became more comfortable with searching for scholarly articles, and I quickly grasped how to refine my searches using keywords and filters to find the most relevant sources.

One of the most valuable library tools I utilized was the “Ask a Librarian” service. This online feature helped me explore various resources and databases I wasn’t familiar with. These databases included PsycINFO, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, as well as Project MUSE and SSRN eLibrary. The “Ask a Librarian” was very helpful in directing me toward some of these databases, since the University has so many in the A-Z Database and I didn’t know where to begin and they all have different concentrations. Project MUSE and SSRN eLibrary were partially helpful in generating content from media and humanities, which was a key part of this pop culture analysis.

Beyond navigating databases, librarian instruction on how to evaluate sources of credibility in the academic world was very helpful. This ability to diagnose credentials helped me distinguish foundational and contemporary scholars in my theoretical frameworks, which was imperative to the writing and structuring of my paper.

AU Library and the support from librarians was fundamental to my research process and helped establish a strong introduction to the research resources available at AU. These tools not only provided me with the knowledge necessary to effectively search for and evaluate sources, but also guided me in structuring my research in a meaningful way. My experience with the library has grown my ability to conduct in-depth research and ultimately prepare me to produce
well-rounded and academically rigorous papers, like my submission. Without the library’s support, this project would not have been nearly as successful, and I am deeply grateful for the guidance I received throughout this process.