Liam Payne graces front cover of gay lifestyle magazine

Liam Payne. Photo: Attitude

One Direction heartthrob Liam Payne has been announced as the new cover star for gay lifestyle magazine, Attitude.

The 22-year-old - who was accused of making homophobic comments during a One Direction concert last month - teased the photos on his Twitter page.

"I'm on the cover of the new issue of @AttitudeMag," he tweeted. "Can't wait for you to see the shoot."

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Liam found himself in hot water with Directioners, after he made a comment about his favourite Four track, Girl Almighty.

"It's about trying to find that number one woman in your life, which none of you can relate to 'cause most of you are girls," he said. "Except for the boys in here, you know what I'm talking about."

But a spokesperson for the UK publication is hoping the magazine shoot will be a turning point for the singer.

"It's the first solo shoot and interview any of the members of One Direction have done, their first gay press shoot and I think the only magazine promo for their new album," the spokesperson said.

"The news that the band are taking a hiatus or splitting up, whichever version you believe, means that this story should be global news and I'll be surprised if it doesn't become our biggest-selling issue ever."

Liam's interview for the mag is yet to be released.

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Harry Styles. Photo: Instagram