LIAM PAYNE was reported by the state police to have died following a fall from the third floor of his hotel room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina.
The director of SAME, Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Services, reported to ABC News that emergency services were called yesterday, Wednesday, due to a man “acting erratically” and possibly under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.
According to Reuters, an audio clip obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry revealed a worker saying: “When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone.”
They also said that the guest’s life was at risk given that their room had a balcony.
TMZ also reports that Payne had allegedly smashed his laptop while in the hotel lobby, and had to be carried back to his room.
Soon after this, a loud noise was heard at the back of the hotel, and Payne was pronounced dead on the scene after his body was found in the inner courtyard of the hotel. He had fallen over the balcony in his room, though it is unconfirmed whether this was intentional or not.
His body was removed by emergency responders and was soon taken to the morgue.
Payne recently visited Argentina to attend the concert of his former bandmate, Niall Horan.
Liam’s career
Initially, Payne auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 when he was just 14 years old, but was cut at the Boot Camp stage and was asked by judge Simon Cowell to come back again in two years.
He then auditioned once again in 2010 and, following a suggestion from guest judge Nicole Scherzinger, was placed in a group with fellow competitors Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. They would then go on to become One Direction, one of the biggest boy bands in the world.
Their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” was released in 2011 and quickly became number one in several countries. Each of their albums was topping the charts, and they were selling out concerts all around the world.
Six years from when they first formed, they were placed on an indefinite hiatus, parting ways to pursue solo careers. He would soon release singles such as “Get Low” and “Strip That Down”.
In 2017, he would announce the birth of his first child, Bear, whom he had with Cheryl, a former Girls Aloud star and a guest judge from when Payne was still on The X Factor.
Following his split with Cheryl, he then got engaged to Maya Henry, an American model, however, they broke their engagement in 2021.
After this, he started dating Kate Cassidy, who is best known for posting travel, food, and fashion content on Instagram and TikTok.
About Liam and Maya
Henry had recently asked her lawyers to send Payne a cease-and-desist letter to Payne, accusing him of repeatedly contacting her.
Her lawyers told Daily Mail: “Maya Henry issued a cease and desist last week to Liam Payne following the emergence of new and concerning information. She has retained attorneys Marco Crawford and Daniel Cerna to represent her.”
Henry recently posted a TikTok saying that following her breakup with Payne, he would constantly ring her phone, even using different numbers so she wouldn’t know where the call was coming from.
Not only this, but he would allegedly also call her mother’s and friends’ phones as well.
Henry also released a book detailing her life, saying that while the book was fictional, many of the events portrayed reflected her personal experiences with Payne. Included in the book are feats of emotional abuse, drug use, and violence.
One such scene in the book, Mix Vale reports, is Mallory (assumed to be Henry) discovering that she is pregnant, and getting excited at the thought of becoming a mother.
Her partner Oliver (assumed to be Payne) then threatens to leave her if she chooses to keep the baby, resulting in Mallory terminating the pregnancy and then staying in the hospital after suffering from complications.
Henry also shared that Payne showed problematic behavior during their relationship, such as substance abuse, showing that Oliver often took his frustrations out on Mallory.
She has also said about Payne that he could do whatever he wanted because he knew his fans would protect him.
Through this book, she said that she hoped to give a voice to women in similar situations.
Fans, celebrities honor Payne’s memory
Following Payne’s death, fans gathered around his hotel to mourn him, lighting candles and comforting one another as they cried over the singer.
One fan told Reuters: “He won’t be here anymore, what will we do now? My God, this can’t be.”
Another fan admitted that while she lives far away from the hotel, she still came because she knew that this was the only way to say goodbye to Payne.
Another also shared that she couldn’t believe that the singer had died, and she and her sister came to the hotel to confirm if it was true. She was in shock, especially since she just saw him at Horan’s concert two weeks prior.
Fans from all over the world also took to social media to mourn Payne’s death. On X, one fan wrote: “If the news is true, even though I was not a fan of him anymore, One Direction changed and shaped my life so much, and he was a part of that band. These feelings are so complicated and hard to navigate. I am literally at a loss for words.”
Many celebrities have also gone online to post their condolences for the singer. Max George from the band The Wanted, for example, said on X that Payne was unbelievably supportive during one of the most difficult times in his life, and he would never forget that.
He added: “My thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans at this horrendous time. Rest in peace Liam.”
Presenter Dermot O’Leary also said on Instagram: “The worst news. I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing. He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble. Sending love and prayers to his family.”
Socialite Paris Hilton also posted to X sending love and condolences to his family and loved ones. The group Jedward also said that they were sending strength to Cheryl, his son Bear, and to the entire One Direction family.
“Life is short and fragile… you never know what people are going through,” wrote music producer Zedd on X.
“We live in times where being rude, divisive and mean is normal; sometimes even celebrated. It doesn’t have to be this way. We should do our best to be kind, supportive and mindful.”
Singer Charlie Puth also posted a photo with Payne to his Instagram. In his story, he wrote: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone.”
