Liam Payne has spoken about his controversial new song Both Ways, describing the song – which has led to him being accused of fetishising bisexuality – as a celebration of the message “love is love”.

The former One Direction singer released his debut album LP1 on Friday, but the release quickly made headlines when many listeners suggested the track Both Ways over-sexualised bisexual women, and perpetuated negative stereotypes.

During the album cut, Liam is heard singing: “Lovin’ the way that she’s turning you on, switching the lanes like a Bugatti Sport, nothing but luck that she got me involved, yeah.

“Flipping that body, go head, I go tails, sharing that body like it’s our last meal.”

He later adds: “She said we’re young and we’re stupid, she said, ‘come on, boy, let’s do this’, make every day my birthday, let’s celebrate, like oh my gosh, she do things you won’t believe.”

In an interview with the BBC conducted before the track came under fire, Liam described Both Ways as his “favourite song” on LP1, suggesting the lyrics are about being open-minded in the “world of ‘love is love’”.

“People [are] becoming much more understanding about the way love is,” he said. “And rightly so.”

Liam also insisted the song is not based on his own experiences, adding: “I don’t know who in the studio had actually been in this situation, because I certainly haven’t, but it was an interesting song to write.”

A spokesperson for Liam declined to comment on the controversy when contacted by HuffPost UK shortly after the song’s release.