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Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentine authorities said Wednesday. According to a report on Reuters, the 31-year-old singer was discovered at the CasaSur hotel in the city’s Palermo neighborhood after a hotel manager reported hearing a loud noise from the courtyard.
Police were called to the scene after receiving reports of an "aggressive man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol," according to a police statement. Upon arrival, officers were informed that the man had fallen from his room’s balcony.
Audio obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry reveals a worker's call for assistance, saying, "When he is conscious, he is destroying the room, and we need help. His life is at risk because of the balcony."
Payne, who shot to global fame as a member of the boy band One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, had spoken openly about his struggles with mental health and alcohol. Though details about the circumstances of his death remain unclear, his passing has led to an outpouring of grief from fans and the music industry.
One fan, Violeta Antier, said she rushed to the hotel upon hearing the news. "I saw him two weeks ago at a Niall Horan concert. He looked fine then," she said.
The British singer attended Horan's concert in Buenos Aires on October 2, and the two posted videos together on social media. Fellow musician Charlie Puth expressed shock at Payne's death, writing on Instagram, "Liam was always so kind to me. I can't believe he’s gone."
Payne, who auditioned for The X Factor at 16, was put into One Direction by Simon Cowell in 2010. The band became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, with hits like "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Story of My Life." After the group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, Payne pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album LP1 in 2019. His most recent single, "Teardrop," came out in March.
Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he had with British TV personality Cheryl.
[Information sourced from Reuters]
