Maya Henry is reportedly dragging her ex-fiancé, One Direction star Liam Payne, to court, after accusing him of unwanted contact. The 23-year-old Texan model has instructed her lawyers to issue a cease and desist letter to Payne, marking a dramatic turn in their relationship saga.
The news comes just as Maya has been promoting her debut novel, Looking Forward, a romance about a girl who falls in love with a pop star, which has raised eyebrows due to its parallels to her real-life relationship with Payne.
The couple’s engagement ended in 2022, and since then, both have moved on in different directions—Payne is now in a relationship with Kate Cassidy, while Maya has been focused on her burgeoning literary career.
However, despite their breakup, Maya alleges that Payne, 31, has continued to contact her, leading her to take legal action. According to the lawsuit, Payne is not only reaching out to Maya, but also to her friends and family, including her mother, Azteca Henry. The lawsuit states: “Maya Henry issued a cease and desist last week to Liam Payne following the emergence of new and concerning information.”
Maya has retained lawyers Marco Crawford and Daniel Cerna to handle the case, but at this time, she is keeping details of the legal proceedings under wraps. “That is her only comment on the matter,” her legal team stated.
The couple’s three-year relationship was often in the spotlight, especially following their engagement in 2020. However, by mid-2021, the engagement was called off, and by the following year, the couple officially went their separate ways. At the time, Payne admitted to personal struggles, confessing that he wasn’t always the best partner, and that led to the breakdown of their relationship.
Since their split, Payne has moved forward in his romantic life with Kate Cassidy. Meanwhile, Maya has channeled her energy into her novel, Looking Forward, which has been stirring conversations due to its “art-imitating-life” plot. The story of a young woman falling for a global pop star closely mirrors her past relationship with Payne, sparking further intrigue among her fans.
Maya’s father, Thomas J. Henry, is a prominent personal injury lawyer and a multimillionaire, and her family has been widely supportive throughout her career and public life. Given the recent developments, her father’s influence and resources may prove critical in the legal battle with Payne.
The cease and desist letter signifies that Maya is taking these claims seriously, indicating that there may be deeper, unresolved issues between the former couple. While Payne has not yet responded publicly to these allegations, the legal battle will likely draw more attention to their tumultuous past.
Read More: Nicole Kidman’s Shocking Heated Exchange with Salma Hayek Sparks Fashion Week Chaos
This situation also places a spotlight on Maya’s growing career as an author. Her novel, Looking Forward, explores the complexities of fame, love, and personal growth, and the legal case with Payne might inadvertently give her more visibility as an emerging writer. Fans are now watching closely, not just to see how the legal proceedings unfold but also to draw connections between the fiction of her novel and the reality of her past.
Though their relationship is in the past, the legal wrangling shows that there are still unresolved matters between Payne and Henry. What started as a whirlwind romance between the former One Direction star and the model has now evolved into a court battle, casting a shadow over both their personal lives and public personas.
As Maya Henry presses forward with her legal action, her decision to take this step underscores the importance of setting boundaries, even with an ex-partner, particularly when the past keeps resurfacing. How Payne will respond remains to be seen, but with legal representation in place, Maya appears prepared to address the situation head-on.
For now, the public can only speculate as this real-life drama unfolds alongside the fictional love story Maya has written. Whether the lawsuit will be settled quietly or turn into a more public spectacle remains unknown, but it’s clear that Maya is determined to move on, both personally and professionally, while ensuring her boundaries are respected.
