A close friend of Liam Payne learned about the One Direction star's tragic death just moments before going live on Australian TV. During Thursday's episode of Channel 7's morning show 'Sunrise,' British adventurer Ant Middleton paid tribute to the singer after discovering that Payne had passed away at the age of 31.
"I speak to Liam quite often, he's a good friend of mine. And, wow, I'm shocked, this is obviously the first I'm hearing of it," the 44-year-old Middleton said. Middleton, who filmed the 2019 documentary 'Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking with Payne,' added, "I don't really know what to say about that. I'm going to have to make sure that I reach out to the relevant people to find out what's happened to my good friend."
Middleton continued, "But I'm away filming at the moment as you can see, that's why I'm wet and there's a bit of noise around me. But yeah, my condolences and I hope they find out what's gone on." The TV personality described Payne as a "younger brother" after he became Middleton's first celebrity guest on his docuseries.
"After we filmed 'Straight Talking with Ant Middleton,' we formed a brotherhood," Middleton expressed. "He was like a younger brother to me. He would confide in me, I'd go 'round and see him." Middleton also touched on Payne's struggles over the years, saying, "There were some issues there, but nothing that a young celebrity at his caliber wouldn't suffer from. So I'm just shocked at the moment really, wow. Yeah. Don't really know what to say."
However, Middleton had only kind words for the fallen star, sharing on the show, "He had a lovely aura around him, he was a lovely guy, he had positive energy around him. He was a visionary, he always thought and dreamed big and that's why he got to where he was." Middleton took to Instagram to share pictures of Payne, including one of the duo in front of a sunset.
"That was some sunset you captured there mate!" he captioned the post. "A talented positive man with a good heart. I'm glad our friendship flourished and that I was someone you could confide in." Middleton concluded the touching post, "Your turn to look over me now bro! Luv ya and will miss you sorely... My sincere condolences to @liampayne family during these unimaginable times #restinpeacebrother."
Payne, who was dad to son Bear, 7, with ex Cheryl Cole, fell to his death from the third floor of his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday. Medical officials confirmed that the star had a "cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death." Witnesses told TMZ Payne was acting "erratic" before his sudden passing. He allegedly smashed his laptop in the hotel lobby and was carried back to his room before the fall.
He had arrived in Argentina earlier this month to see his former bandmate Niall Horan in concert. In the aftermath of his death, shocking images allegedly show drugs and drink in Payne's smashed-up hotel room, as police are hunting for his dealer, per local reports. The images — verified by Argentina's biggest newspaper, La Nacion — reportedly show a smashed television, a half-empty glass of what appeared to be champagne, and foil and powder scattered across the former boy band member's third-floor room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
Photos of a desk show a Dove soap packet, an empty glass and the remains of a burned candle and the burned top of a drink can — along with traces of a white powder that authorities will test to confirm suspicions it could be cocaine, La Nacion reported. Wax and burned foil was also photographed in the hotel bathtub, per to La Nacion.
Argentinian officials first received a 911 call around 5 p.m. about an "aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol," according to Pablo Policicchio, communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry. Policicchio claimed Wednesday that the 31-year-old "had jumped from the balcony of his room." Throughout his career, Payne had gone to rehab at least twice for alcohol addiction and previously opened up about how his addiction caused him to feel suicidal at times.
"I was worried how far my rock bottom was going to be. Where's rock bottom for me? And you would never have seen it," Payne said during the 'Diary Of The CEO Podcast' in 2021. "I'm very good at hiding it. No one would ever have seen it."
