Former One Direction star Liam Payne dies after falling from hotel balcony in Argentina

Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, has tragically passed away at the age of 31 in Argentina after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to police reports.

His body was discovered in the upscale Palermo neighborhood on Wednesday after emergency services responded to a call.

Payne rose to global fame as part of One Direction, formed on The X Factor in 2010, alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik.

Earlier this month, Payne attended a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan in Argentina.

Buenos Aires police stated that they were initially called to the scene to address reports of “an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

Upon arrival, hotel staff reported hearing a loud noise from an interior courtyard, where Payne’s body was later found. A police investigation is ongoing.

Alberto Crescenti, director of emergency medical services, confirmed Payne had suffered “serious injuries,” and an autopsy is scheduled.

Crescenti declined to comment further on the circumstances surrounding Payne’s fall. Payne’s body has been moved to a city morgue.

Hours before the incident, Payne had posted on Snapchat saying, “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina.”

However, the footage was reportedly from earlier in the week, when he was with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is in contact with Argentine authorities regarding the death of a British citizen but has provided no additional details.

News of Payne’s death sparked an outpouring of grief, with fans gathering outside the Buenos Aires hotel where the incident occurred.

Police cordoned off the entrance as mourners lit candles in his memory. One fan, Violeta Antier, told Reuters, “I was in my living room when my sister told me Liam died. We couldn’t believe it.

We came here directly to confirm it was true.” She mentioned having seen him at the Niall Horan concert just two weeks earlier.

Another woman, in tears, told the news agency, “This is the only way I have to say goodbye to him.”

Payne and One Direction achieved global success with hits such as What Makes You Beautiful and Story of My Life.

After the band announced a hiatus in 2015, Payne pursued a solo career, with notable hits like Strip That Down and his collaboration with Rita Ora on For You for the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack.

Tributes have been pouring in online, including from Max George of The Wanted, who described Payne’s death as “absolutely devastating.”

George shared on Instagram, “Over the last few years I had the pleasure of getting to know him personally and spent some treasured time with him.”

He also recalled Payne’s support when George’s bandmate, Tom Parker, battled a brain tumor before passing in 2022. Payne had attended Parker’s funeral.

Singer Olly Murs, who competed on The X Factor just a year before One Direction, said he was “lost for words” following the news.

“Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams, so to see his life now end so young hits hard. I’m truly gutted and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear losing a dad,” Murs wrote.

Presenter Dermot O’Leary reflected on Payne’s journey, remembering him as a 14-year-old auditioning for The X Factor, “blowing us away singing Sinatra.”

O’Leary described him as “always a joy,” and sent his condolences to Payne’s family.

Socialite Paris Hilton also paid tribute on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “RIP my friend.”

In August 2024, Payne was announced as a judge on a new Netflix talent show, alongside former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls.

Born in Wolverhampton, UK, Payne first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 but was told by Simon Cowell to return in two years.

When he did, he impressed the judges and was grouped with four other solo contestants, forming One Direction.

The band went on to dominate charts worldwide, scoring four UK number-one albums and singles. After Zayn Malik’s departure in 2015, the band went on hiatus.

Payne’s solo career saw him reach number three on the UK charts with Strip That Down, and his collaboration with Rita Ora also landed in the top 10.

He welcomed his son Bear with singer Cheryl Tweedy in 2017 before the couple separated in 2018.

Recently, the BBC reported that Payne had received a cease-and-desist letter from his former partner Maya Henry, related to “alleged egregious conduct.”

Henry had also accused Payne of repeatedly contacting her, though he did not respond to the claims.

Source-BBC