Photo: One Direction / Instagram
The members of the immensely successful pop group One Direction expressed on Thursday their profound grief over the tragic death of their bandmate Liam Payne, who met his demise at the age of 31 after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires. Family members conveyed their heartbreak, and messages of condolence flooded in from the music industry, fans, and even the office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. An autopsy in Argentina indicated that the British singer might have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness before his death.
"We are utterly devastated by the news of Liam's passing, and when the time is right, there will be more to say," the remaining One Direction members—Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik—shared on social media. "But for now, we need time to grieve and come to terms with the loss of our beloved brother."
In a separate Instagram post, Malik shared a photo of him and Payne, both asleep next to each other, with the caption: "I lost a brother when you left us, and I can't express what I would give just to hug you one last time." Styles noted that Payne's greatest joy was bringing happiness to others, and Tomlinson described Payne as the kind brother he had always longed for, emphasizing his vital role in the band.
Payne, who was the father of a seven-year-old son with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy, had openly discussed his battles with alcohol and the pressures of fame. He was staying on the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel, which had a balcony overlooking a 14-meter-high rear patio. Prosecutors stated that Payne was alone during the fall and appeared to be experiencing a substance abuse episode at the time.
Payne's family released a statement remembering him for his kind, funny, and brave spirit, requesting privacy during this difficult time. Mikey Graham of Boyzone suggested that record companies should consider having psychologists on staff to care for the vulnerability of young talents in memory of Payne.
The Clarin newspaper published images of Payne's hotel room, revealing white powder on a table next to a piece of aluminum foil and a lighter, along with a broken television screen. The prosecutor's office reported finding substances that appeared to be narcotics and alcoholic beverages in the room, along with broken furniture and other objects.
One Direction, formed in 2010 after the members appeared on the British television contest "The X Factor," became one of the highest-grossing live acts in the world. Despite Malik's departure in 2016, the group announced an indefinite hiatus rather than a breakup. Payne's solo career included hits like "Strip That Down," but he also openly discussed his struggles with alcoholism and fame in recent years.
In a 2023 video on his YouTube account, Payne spoke about his time in rehab and his efforts to stop drinking, admitting, "I kind of became someone I didn't really recognize anymore." He had been working on a second solo album and released a single in March.
