Liam Payne, the former One Direction member, was reported dead after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. His death at 31 prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, who gathered outside the hotel to sing his songs and celebrate his life.
Police responded to reports of an “aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol” at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires.
Upon arrival, the hotel manager informed them of a loud noise from the courtyard, and officers discovered that a man had fallen from a hotel balcony.
Audio from the Buenos Aires security ministry revealed a hotel worker calling for police assistance regarding the situation.
“When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone,” the worker said, adding that the guest’s life was at risk because the room had a balcony.
One Direction achieved global fame after Simon Cowell formed the group, consisting of Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, on the UK’s X Factor in 2010.
They sold 70 million records and scored six top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100, including “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life,” and “Live While We’re Young.” Liam Payne was also a co-writer on “Story of My Life” and “Night Changes.”
One Direction announced an “indefinite hiatus” in 2016, allowing its members to pursue solo careers. Liam Payne’s most recent single, “Teardrop,” was released in March of this year.
Following the news of his passing, Payne’s family expressed their heartbreak over the loss.
“Liam will live forever in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” they said in a statement.
While the circumstances of Liam Payne’s death remain unclear, he had previously opened up about his struggles with mental health and his use of alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
“Doing a show to however many thousands of people, then being stuck by yourself in a country where you can’t go out anywhere – what else are you going to do? The minibar is always there,” he told in 2019.
