Sam Pounds has indefinitely postponed the release of what would have been Liam Payne's first posthumous single, "Do No Wrong," just days after announcing the project to the world.
Earlier this week, North Carolina singer Sam Pounds took to his social media to announce his plans to release the single, which he said featured contributions by both Liam Payne and his sister Ruth Gibbins, on November 1, 2024. In a since-deleted post, Pounds wrote: "I pray that this will be a blessing to the world like Liam has always dreamed. I pray angels will comfort you all everyday [sic] while listening. I pray that this song will be a blessing to Ruth, Bear, and the entire family. I pray that this song eclipses the negative echoes. I pray supernatural positive healing power will embrace each and every one of you."
The announcement sparked mixed reactions among fans, which prompted Pounds to pull the release altogether. "Today I'm deciding to hold 'Do No Wrong' and leave those liberties up to all family members," he wrote on his X account on October 29, just two days after his initial announcement. "I want all proceeds [to] go to a charity of their choosing (or however they desire). Even though we all love the song it's not the time yet. We are all still mourning the passing of Liam and I want the family to morn [sic] in peace and in prayer. We will all wait."
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Shortly after his retraction, fans praised Pounds's decision to hold the release. "Thank you for making the right choice. It's in the vein of what Liam would've chosen," someone commented under the singer's post.
"Sam, it is a good decision, it is a gesture of love and respect that you prioritize Liam's family and that you honor his memory while respecting everyone's time of mourning," someone else wrote.
"Your decision to prioritize family, love, and respect over everything else speaks volumes. It's beautiful that you're choosing to honor Liam's memory and give everyone time to mourn in their own way. Holding back on 'Do No Wrong' for now, and dedicating proceeds to a charity when the time is right, is a deeply meaningful gesture," a third one added.
Liam Payne's death was reported on October 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. Since then, tributes have been pouring in for the star, both from fans and his former One Direction members, as well as other musicians and celebrities. Outside of One Direction, Payne released his only solo album, LP1, in 2019. His most recent single, "Teardrops," was released in March 2024.
