Former One Direction singer Liam Payne tragically passed on after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The 31-year-old was found in the hotel’s interior patio, and emergency responders confirmed his death at the scene. Police had been called to the hotel in the Palermo neighborhood earlier, responding to reports of an aggressive man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Hotel staff said they heard a loud noise outside, which led to the discovery of Payne's fall. Before the incident, hotel workers reported that the singer had been erratically destroying his room.
Despite attempts to contact Payne's record label, Republic Records, the company did not immediately comment.
Fans quickly gathered outside the hotel, some visibly emotional, to mourn the British singer. Payne’s former bandmate, Niall Horan, had recently performed in Buenos Aires, with Payne attending the concert just two weeks prior. Both had shared videos with fans during the event, with Payne appearing in good spirits then.
Payne's sudden death has left fans and colleagues in shock. American singer Charlie Puth, who worked with Payne, expressed his disbelief on social media, calling the singer kind and generous. Tributes also poured in from major music platforms like MTV, Spotify, and the BRIT Awards, all of whom condoled Payne’s family.
Liam Payne was widely known for his time in One Direction, a boy band that gained global fame after finishing third on the British "X Factor" in 2010.
Despite the group disbanding in 2016, Payne continued a successful solo career, co-writing hits like "Story of My Life" and "Night Changes." His struggles with mental health and alcohol use were well-documented, and just last year, he shared with fans that he was working on new music while recovering from his challenges.
Payne leaves behind a son, Bear, whom he shares with British TV personality Cheryl.
