Former member of the renowned British boy band One Direction, Liam Payne, was found dead on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, according to local officials.
Payne, whose group attracted a massive global fan base, reportedly fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel, located in the popular Palermo district.
The police statement noted that Payne suffered “extremely serious injuries” and was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel.
Buenos Aires police informed The Associated Press that Payne had “jumped from the balcony of his room.”
Authorities responded to an emergency call just after 5 pm, which reported an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
A hotel manager can be heard in a 911 call saying Payne was “overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol,” and was destroying his room.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state’s emergency medical services, told Todo Noticias TV that investigations and an autopsy were underway to determine the exact circumstances of Payne’s death.
Payne had openly spoken out on his battle with alcohol addiction, revealing in a YouTube video in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after undergoing treatment.
In the wake of the news, scores of One Direction fans gathered outside the Casa Sur Hotel, creating a makeshift memorial with candles and flowers.
Many filmed the scene on their phones, visibly emotional as forensic teams removed Payne’s body roughly three hours after the incident.
Payne rose to fame in 2010 as part of One Direction, formed during the British singing competition “The X Factor.”
He and his bandmates—Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson—were put together by the show’s judges after failing to progress as solo acts.
Though they didn’t win, the group achieved worldwide success with hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Story of My Life.”
Payne, known as the “responsible” member of the group, co-wrote several of their songs and had prominent solos on tracks like “Stole My Heart.”
Following One Direction’s breakup in 2016, Payne launched a solo career, venturing into EDM and hip-hop.
His 2017 single “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo reached the Billboard Top 10. Payne released his debut album “LP1” in 2019, and his last single, “Teardrops,” came out in March.
Payne leaves behind his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, from his previous relationship with singer Cheryl (formerly known as Cheryl Cole), who was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction’s season.
Payne was also previously engaged to Maya Henry, with whom he split in 2022. Besides his son, Payne leaves behind his parents, Geoff and Karen, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
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