Liam Payne, a former member of the British boy band One Direction, died Wednesday after he fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
According to local officials, the 31-year-old was found dead at the Casa Sur hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He suffered severe injuries when he fell from the third floor.
A statement from the security ministry of Buenos Aires said that Payne fell from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room.
The incident occurred after the police responded to a call about an intoxicated and aggressive man inside the hotel.
According to the AP, the hotel’s manager made a 911 call to ask for help after he said that the guest was destroying the entire room. The voice on the call became more anxious as it continued.
According to Alberto Crescenti, the head of the emergency medical system in Argentina, the cause of the death of the former One Direction member is under investigation.
He also stated that an autopsy would be carried out. In July 2023, Payne posted a YouTube video in which he talked about his battle with alcoholism. He noted that he had been sober for around six months.
No immediate response was provided by Payne’s representatives. Following the news about his death, several fans from different parts of the city flocked to the Casa Sur hotel to pay their respects. They formed a line outside the establishment, which was cordoned off by police. Forensic investigators were also seen leaving the hotel.
While some of the women were filming with their phones, they expressed their grief and disbelief at the death of Payne. One of the women who came to the hotel said that she didn’t think that he would die so young. He was one of the members of One Direction who formed in 2010 after they all auditioned for the British talent show “The X Factor.”
At the age of 16, Payne performed Michael Bublé’s “Cry Me a River” during the second audition of the “X Factor.” He appeared nervous during his performance, but he warmed up with the audience’s support. After the other three singers failed to make it through to the next round, Simon Cowell and the other judges decided to put together the four members of One Direction.
The members of One Direction had their own distinct personas. Payne, who was from the West Midlands city of Wolverhampton, was referred to as the responsible one because of his role in the band. The group became known for their loveable pop songs, such as “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Night Changes.” He also contributed to the band’s other hits, such as “Change Your Ticket.”
By the time they broke up in 2016, One Direction had already had six hits on the US Billboard charts. Their loyal fans, who are referred to as “Directioners,” were also very vocal about their support for the band. Following the band’s dissolution, Payne pursued a solo career.
His song “Strip That Down,” which was featured by Quavo, reached the number 10 spot on the Billboard charts in 2017. He released an album in 2019, and his last single, “Teardrops,” was released in March. He and his former girlfriend, Cheryl, who was also known as Cheryl Cole, have a 7-year-old son named Bear Grey.
Although she was a judge on “The X Factor,” Payne and Maya Henry started their relationship years before. They were engaged in 2020, and Henry released a novel about their relationship in the year of their engagement. He is survived by his mother Karen and father Geoff, as well as his sisters Nicola and Ruth.