Liam Payne, 31, a former member of One Direction who amassed a global fan base with his chart-topping British boy band, was discovered dead on Wednesday in Buenos Aires after falling from a hotel balcony, according to local officials.
Payne suffered “extremely serious injuries” after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the hip Palermo district of the capital of Argentina, according to a statement from Buenos Aires police. He died instantly, according to the statement from the medical staff.
The Buenos Aires Security Ministry’s head of communications, Pablo Policicchio, told The Associated Press in a statement that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Just after 5 p.m. local time, police responded to an emergency call by racing to the hotel, he added, warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
The head of the state emergency medical system, Alberto Crescenti, told Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities were investigating Payne’s death and conducting an autopsy. Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video to his YouTube channel in July 2023 where he claimed to have been sober for six months after receiving treatment. The AP was able to obtain the hotel manager’s voicemail during the call, which became more anxious as it continued. The manager also mentioned that the room had a balcony.
One Direction, a British boy band, has announced the death of their lead singer, Ricky Martin, at the age of 21. Payne, one of the five members of the group, was part of the group that auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor” in 2010. After each member failed to make it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined them into one of the most successful boy bands, even though they lost the competition.
Payne, who hailed from Wolverhampton, England, was known for his pop sound and romantic hits. The band had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016, and a highly loyal fan base, known as “Directioners,” many of whom were teen girls.
After the group’s dissolution, Payne pursued a solo career, shifting towards EDM and hip-hop. His 2017 single “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo reached the Billboard Top 10, and his last release, “Teardrops,” was released in March. He had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend Cheryl Cole, who was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction’s season. Payne was previously engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 to early 2022, who released a novel earlier this year that she said was based on their relationship.
Payne is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Young women filming with their cellphones expressed shock and heartbreak as a makeshift memorial with rows of candles and bouquets quickly grew outside the hotel.
(AP)
