BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said.
Buenos Aires police stated that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, according to authorities.
Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, reported that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Police were called to the hotel just after 5 p.m. local time due to concerns about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
The hotel manager was heard on a 911 call saying they had “a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol … He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.” As the call progressed, the manager’s voice revealed increasing urgency, noting the presence of a balcony.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, mentioned that authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy.
Payne had openly discussed his struggles with alcoholism, having posted a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel, stating he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment. Representatives for Payne did not immediately respond to inquiries.
After the news broke, dozens of One Direction fans gathered outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, forming lines that spilled into the street as police maintained a presence. Forensic investigators were seen exiting the hotel, from where Payne’s body was removed around three hours following the fall. Young women, filming with their cell phones, expressed shock and heartbreak as a makeshift memorial of candles and flowers quickly formed outside the hotel.
“I didn’t think he was going to die so young,” 21-year-old Isabella Milesi shared.
Payne was one of five members of One Direction, which formed when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor” in 2010, two years after Payne’s first attempt to get on the show. At 16, during his second audition, Payne performed Michael Bublé’s version of “Cry Me a River,” expressing initial nerves but gaining confidence from audience cheers.
After each singer failed to progress as solo artists, judges Simon Cowell and his fellow panelists combined Payne with Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson to create one of the most successful boy bands in history, despite losing the competition.
Each member carved out a distinct persona, with Payne — a Wolverhampton native — known as the responsible one. The band became famous for their pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes,” and “Story of My Life.” Payne featured prominently in several of the band’s songs, co-writing many of their hits. By the time they disbanded in 2016, they had achieved six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts and amassed a loyal fan base, known as “Directioners,” many of whom were teenage girls.
“I’ve always loved One Direction since I was little,” remarked 18-year-old Juana Relh, another fan outside the hotel. “To hear that he died and that there will never be another reunion of the boys is unbelievable; it breaks my heart.”
Following his meteoric rise to fame, Payne noted that it took some time to acclimate to life in the public eye.
“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,” he expressed in a 2013 interview with the AP, recalling an episode where a fan was in shock upon meeting him.
After the group’s breakup, Payne, like his fellow bandmates, embarked on a solo career, leaning towards EDM and hip-hop genres. His 2017 single “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo, broke into the Billboard Top 10 and remained on the charts for several months. He released an album “LP1” in 2019, with his latest single, “Teardrops,” launched in March.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
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