Liam Payne’s Friend Accuses Singer’s Father in Legal Case for Defamation as He Disputes Being His ‘Guardian’

Liam Payne‘s friend Roger Nores has filed a defamation suit against the singer’s father, Geoff Payne.

He alleged that the father of his deceased friend had tarnished his reputation in the media following Payne’s passing, making allegations of negligence in Nores’ care of the singer.

Roger Nores also said in the suit that he “never agreed to be and was never the caretaker” of the late Liam Payne.

TMZ obtained documents showing that Roger Nores, Payne’s friend, has filed a lawsuit against the singer’s father, Geoff.

In the legal action, Nores, who had been in company with the singer shortly before his demise, accused his friend’s father of besmirching his character post-Payne’s death. He seemed to be alluding to Geoff’s public statements implying that Nores was in charge of looking after Payne.

Nores also indicated that Geoff had painted him as a suspect to the Buenos Aires authorities by providing a signed statement asserting that Nores bore “full responsibility for Liam’s care during this last period.”

According to the 35-year-old, Geoff’s claims were false as he had “never agreed to be and was never the caretaker of Liam.”

He went on to say that he shared a strong bond with the late singer and that they supported each other, but it was solely because they were “dear friends” and not due to any paid arrangement.

Elsewhere in the suit, Nores further declared his innocence regarding any involvement in Payne’s death, claiming he never provided the singer with “any recreational drugs and never controlled any prescribed medications taken” by him.

He also mentioned that he had spoken to the late singer’s father about being unable to “devote the same time to support” the former One Direction star. This reported conversation took place via email between himself and Geoff in August 2024, which Nores alleges Geoff failed to disclose to the authorities.

Nores also stated that he had urged Geoff to take immediate action in addressing Payne’s struggles with addiction.

When they spoke the following month, Nores reportedly urged Geoff to visit Payne’s Wellington, FL, residence to care for his son. However, despite his emphasis on Payne’s condition, he claimed that Geoff never made the trip.

In his suit, Nores claimed that Geoff had “never provided for a temporary or new bodyguard caretaker” for Payne after the late singer fired his “paid caretaker” and bodyguard, Bledar Vata.

Not only did he blame Geoff, but Nores also pointed out that people like Payne’s girlfriend had “a unique capacity, opportunity, and superior knowledge of his activities and needs.”

He then called for the singer’s late father to recant his sworn statement to the police.

“Geoff needs to backtrack on his sworn statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker,” Nores told TMZ.

He added, “Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful, free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”

If the lawsuit ends in his favor, Nores intends to donate any money he is awarded to his late friend’s son, Bear.

Nores is one of the five suspects charged in the investigation into Payne’s death following the singer’s fatal fall from a hotel balcony.

He is accused of negligent homicide, linked to claims that he abandoned Payne despite knowing the One Direction star was not in the best state when he left the hotel on the day of his death.

Although Nores is yet to be remanded, he has been banned from leaving Argentina until the case is concluded.

He has also denied abandoning the late singer, adding that he left him in good health on the day of his death.

“I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened,” he said in a statement, per the Daily Mail.

“There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen.”