Liam Payne’s death, a former member of the band One Direction has left his family and fans with so many questions. The singer passed away after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as confirmed by local authorities.
Police arrived at the scene after hotel staff called for help, reporting an incident at the hotel located in the Palermo area. The call, shared by local news, mentioned that the situation became urgent shortly before he died.
According to the hotel manager, Payne appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol and had been causing damage to the room. They feared for his safety because they were concerned about his behavior and the balcony in his room.
Regardless, authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway to find out more about the events leading to his unexpected death, with an autopsy planned.
Alberto Crescenti, head of Buenos Aires’ emergency services, explained to local media that Payne fell into the hotel’s inner courtyard.
A few weeks earlier, Payne had been spotted in Argentina attending a concert by his former bandmate, Niall Horan. The 31-year-old singer leaves behind his son, Bear, who is seven years old.
How has Liam Payne’s Death affected his family and friends?
In a statement shared with several news outlets, including the BBC and PA Media, Liam Payne’s family expressed their grief, saying, “Liam will always remain in our hearts, and we will remember his kind, funny, and courageous spirit.”
“We are doing our best to support each other as a family and kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time,” they added, according to the BBC.
Meanwhile, many people have shared tributes to Payne after his passing, including Anne Twist, mother of Harry Styles, his former One Direction bandmate. On Instagram, she posted a simple message: “Just a boy … 💔,” with a red broken-heart emoji against a black background.
Several X-Factor stars also honored Payne on social media. The show’s host, Dermot O’Leary, posted a black-and-white photo of Payne from his time on the show, writing, “This is heartbreaking news. I remember him as a 14-year-old auditioning on The X Factor, singing Sinatra and amazing everyone. He just loved to sing.”
O’Leary, 51, went on to describe Payne as kind, humble, and always respectful. He shared, “He was a joy to be around, and always made time for others. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
Was Liam Payne doing well in his career before he died?
Liam Payne first caught the attention of the public in 2008 when, at just 14 years old, he auditioned for The X Factor with a performance of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” Although Simon Cowell decided not to move him forward to the live shows, he encouraged Payne to focus on his studies and return in a couple of years.
In 2010, Payne came back for a second chance at 16. This time, judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested he be grouped with fellow contestants Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.
The group placed third in the competition and quickly signed a record deal with Simon Cowell. Their first tour the following year was a major success, with sold-out shows in many of the 54 locations they visited worldwide.
Payne rose to international fame as part of One Direction, the boyband that quickly became a global sensation after forming on The X Factor in 2010. In 2016, the band announced they were taking an indefinite break. Ultimately, One Direction rose and became one of the highest-selling boy bands ever, with more than 70 million records sold worldwide.