Liam Payne, a former member of the boyband One Direction, has tragically died at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires, according to local police. The incident occurred on Wednesday at 5 p.m. local time.
A statement from Buenos Aires police confirmed: "Liam James Payne, composer and guitarist, former member of the band One Direction, passed away today after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo."
Alberto Crescenti, the head of the state emergency medical service, told Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that Payne fell into the hotel's internal courtyard.
"Emergency teams arrived shortly after but confirmed the man’s death, which we later learnt was a musician. Crescenti stated that his injuries were fatal, leaving no other options. Crescenti also stated that authorities are investigating the circumstances of Liam Payne's death and an autopsy is being conducted.
According to a statement from the police on Wednesday, they responded to the hotel after receiving a report about an "aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol," Reuters reported. The hotel manager heard a loud noise from the rear of the building, and when police arrived, they found that a man had fallen from the balcony of his room.
Payne was in Argentina with his former bandmate Niall Horan, who had performed at the Movistar Arena on October 2. Payne was seen at the concert, dancing and singing along with the crowd.
Born in Wolverhampton, England, in 1993, Payne was just 16 when he joined One Direction, a boyband formed by Simon Cowell on the British reality show The X Factor in 2010. The band, which included Payne, Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, didn’t win The X Factor but went on to become one of the most successful boybands in history.
One Direction sold over 70 million records worldwide, with hits such as 'What Makes You Beautiful,' 'Night Changes,' and 'Steal My Girl.' The group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, after which Payne pursued a solo career, releasing his debut single 'Strip That Down' featuring Quavo in 2017. The song peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard charts, and Payne had further success with songs like 'For You' with Rita Ora and 'Get Low' with Zedd.
In May 2023, Payne revealed that he was working on a new album he was "really excited" about and mentioned plans for an upcoming tour. The tour, scheduled to begin in South America in September, had to be postponed due to Payne suffering from a kidney infection. Earlier in March, he had released the song 'Teardrops.'
Payne had been open about his struggles with substance abuse and shared that he had completed treatment, celebrating six months of sobriety by the summer of 2023.
Liam Payne has been actively involved in various philanthropic efforts throughout his career. As a member of One Direction, he supported Comic Relief and the Action 1D initiative aimed at improving the future. He also backed several charitable causes independently.
Payne was a strong supporter of UNICEF, collaborating with notable figures like Andy Murray, Jack Whitehall, and Clare Balding for the UNICEF UK’s Children in Danger Summer Disease Appeal. He worked with motorsport star Eddie Jordan to support the UK charity CLIC Sargent and served as an ambassador for Trekstock, a cancer charity for young adults. Through his campaigns with Trekstock, Payne raised nearly $1 million across two fundraising efforts in 2013 and 2015. Additionally, he became an ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) campaign and helped promote a £6 million youth project called "The Youth Zone" in his hometown of Wolverhampton.
Payne was also vocal on social issues. He was pro-choice, speaking out against anti-abortion laws in Alabama in 2019. He supported the Black Lives Matter movement, encouraging education and donations, and participated in London protests. Furthermore, Payne captained the English team for Soccer Aid in 2022 and returned for the 2023 edition to help raise funds for UNICEF.
Payne became a father in 2017 to his son Bear Grey Payne, with former partner Cheryl Cole. The couple split in 2018 after two years together.
