Liam Payne, known for his time with the popular boy band One Direction, has tragically died at the age of 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne reportedly fell from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Hotel located in the city’s Palermo neighborhood. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of his death, which could be due to an accident, foul play, or suicide.
Emergency services confirmed Payne’s passing, shocking fans and fellow musicians alike. One Direction, which disbanded in 2015, was a phenomenal success, with 29 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 and over 70 million records sold globally by 2020.
Born in Wolverhampton, UK, Payne was the youngest of three siblings. His journey in music began at an early age; he initially auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 but did not progress. He returned two years later and was instrumental in forming One Direction through the show in 2010, along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. The band’s first album, Up All Night, released in 2011, made history as the first UK group to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 500,000 copies in its first week.
Their third album, Midnight Memories, was a massive success, with 4 million copies sold within two months of its release. One Direction’s tour, “Where We Are,” in 2014 achieved revenues of $290 million, marking them as one of the highest-grossing vocal groups.
After the band’s hiatus in 2015, Payne pursued a solo career, releasing his debut single “Strip That Down” in 2017 and his first album, LP1, in 2019, which reached number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. He had a son, Bear Grey Payne, with former girlfriend Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, whom he met during his initial audition on The X Factor.
Despite his success, Payne openly battled alcohol addiction and documented his journey toward sobriety earlier this year. Just hours before his death, he shared a Snapchat video enjoying breakfast with his current girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, expressing excitement about his day.
Payne was in Argentina to support Niall Horan at a concert. Local reports indicated that earlier on the day of his death, hotel staff had called emergency services, expressing concern about a guest overwhelmed with alcohol and drugs. He was found in the hotel’s inner courtyard and was pronounced dead shortly after paramedics arrived. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.
The news of Payne’s death has drawn tributes from various celebrities and fans, with many expressing their shock and condolences on social media. Outside the CasaSur Hotel, fans gathered to pay their respects, lighting candles and singing One Direction songs, mourning the loss of a beloved artist.