Liam Payne has had to apologize on social media this week after a backlash from fans due to comments he had made. The One Direction star has apologized for saying that female fans would not be able to relate to the experience of looking for a girlfriend. He made the comments during a gig in Ohio, when he spoke out about one of the band’s songs. “It is about trying to find that number one woman in your life, which none of you can relate to because most of you are girls,” he reportedly stated. “Except the boys, you know what I’m talking about.” He took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to defend the comments and denied that they were in any way homophobic as some fans suggested.

lol think some people take things to literal these days not gunna comment on it anymore you guys know what I meant it was meant in general

— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

I am in no way shape or form homophobic that's a ridicules thing to say and I'm not here to offend people so take it as you will — Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

So annoying trying your hardest to make people happy in a show and you think about all the notes u tried to hit higher or a little sweeter

— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

And all some people want to concentrate on was a throw away statement about a song that I love — Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

Crap end to a good day

— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

Lol this is so insane the more I read I'm like wtf have u ever said something in the wrong way I'm sure every person here has lol — Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

I'm sorry to those I offended really I am but there's no need for some of the things I'm being called

— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

I'm just here to make people smile I kinda consider it my job role — Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) August 19, 2015

The hashtag #WeLoveYouLiam began trending straight away.