BUENOS AIRES — Liam Payne, the former member of the popular boyband One Direction, has died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel in the upscale Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, according to Argentine police.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, with authorities initially responding to reports of an “aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol.” Upon arriving at the hotel, officials discovered Payne’s body in an interior courtyard after hearing a loud sound.
Emergency medical services director Alberto Crescenti told local media that Payne had suffered “serious injuries” and that an autopsy will be conducted. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall.
Payne rose to global fame as part of One Direction, the chart-topping group formed on the UK’s The X Factor television show in 2010. Along with bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, the group produced four UK number one albums and singles before announcing a hiatus in 2015.
Earlier this month, Payne had attended a concert in Argentina by his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan. Fans began gathering outside the Buenos Aires hotel where the incident occurred after news of Payne’s death broke, with some lighting candles in his memory.
Tributes have poured in from Payne’s fellow musicians and celebrities. Max George of the boyband The Wanted described Payne’s death as “absolutely devastating,” recalling his support when Wanted bandmate Tom Parker passed away in 2022.
Singer Olly Murs, who appeared on The X Factor a year before One Direction, said he was “lost for words” over the tragic loss. Presenter Dermot O’Leary, who knew Payne from his X Factor auditions, remembered him as “a joy” who was “always humble.”
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it was in touch with Argentine authorities regarding the reports of a British man’s death. Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 before finding fame with One Direction two years later.
After the group’s hiatus, Payne launched a successful solo career, scoring a UK top 3 hit with “Strip That Down” in 2017. He was also known for his relationship and child with fellow pop star Cheryl Tweedy.
Payne’s sudden and untimely passing has left the music world in shock, with fans and peers alike mourning the loss of a talented artist taken far too soon.
