Liam Payne, a former member of the iconic boy band One Direction, has passed away at the age of 31. David Kraventz, the Security Secretary of Buenos Aires, confirmed to Rolling Stone that Payne died after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The exact cause of death has yet to be determined.
Emergency services in the city, known as SAME, also verified Payne’s death. SAME’s Director, Alberto Crescenti, stated that the artist fell from a height of approximately 13 to 14 meters, suffering severe injuries that were deemed incompatible with life.
Earlier this month, Payne was seen taking photos with fans at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires, where his One Direction bandmate Niall Horan was performing. In a Snapchat video prior to his trip to Argentina, he expressed his eagerness to reconnect with Horan, noting, “It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, England, Payne first gained attention when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, performing Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” In 2010, he was placed in a group with Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik during the show.
The group, later named One Direction, achieved immense success under Simon Cowell’s guidance, known for hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life,” and “Night Changes.” They released five studio albums before going on hiatus in 2016, during which time Payne launched a solo career.
In 2017, Payne released the single “Strip That Down,” which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by his debut solo album LP1 in 2019. This year, he returned to music with the release of “Teardrops,” signaling more projects to come.
Payne was a father to a seven-year-old son, Bear Gray, with singer Cheryl Cole, with whom he parted ways in 2018. He had openly discussed his challenges with substance abuse and had taken steps towards sobriety after facing backlash over comments regarding his career and One Direction’s formation.
This story is ongoing.