Former One Direction member Liam Payne has passed away following an alleged fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Payne, aged 31, reportedly fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel located in the fashionable Palermo district of Argentina's capital. Buenos Aires police confirmed in a statement that the fall resulted in 'extremely serious injuries,' and medical personnel on the scene pronounced him dead.
Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, stated that Payne 'had jumped from the balcony of his room.' Police were dispatched to the hotel on Wednesday evening after receiving an emergency call about an 'aggressive man who might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.' The hotel manager, during a 911 call, described a guest 'overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol' who was causing significant damage to the room. The manager's urgency escalated as the call progressed, noting the room's balcony.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, informed local media that an autopsy was being conducted to determine the exact circumstances of Payne's death. Payne had openly discussed his struggles with alcoholism, sharing a video in July 2023 where he revealed he had been sober for six months following treatment. Following the news of his death, numerous heartbroken One Direction fans, predominantly young women, gathered at the Casa Sur Hotel, creating a makeshift memorial outside with candles and bouquets.
'I didn’t think he was going to die so young,' said 21-year-old Isabella Milesi. Payne was one of the five original members of One Direction, a band that achieved significant chart success and developed a fervent fan base after forming on the British singing competition 'The X Factor' in 2010. Known for their pop sound and romantic hits such as 'What Makes You Beautiful,' 'Night Changes,' and 'Story of My Life,' the band scored six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts before disbanding in 2016.
In a 2013 interview, Payne reflected on the band's rapid rise to fame, stating, 'I don’t think you can ever deal with that, it’s all a bit crazy for us to see that people get in that sort of state of mind about us and what we do.' After the group's dissolution, Payne ventured into a solo career, focusing on EDM and hip-hop. He leaves behind his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, from his former relationship with musician Cheryl Cole. Representatives for Payne have not yet responded to inquiries.
