- Liam Payne was fatally injured after falling from the third floor
- L. Payne fans rushed to express their grief by leaving many candles and flowers at the hotel
- The former One Direction member had been pursuing a solo career for 8 years
- His 7-year-old son with Cheryl Cole left without a father
Liam Payne was fatally injured after falling from the third floor
Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, was found dead in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. According to local officials, Payne fell from the Casa Sur hotel's third floor in the Argentine capital's trendy Palermo district. According to the police, the singer suffered extremely serious injuries and his death was confirmed by medics at the scene.
Pablo Policicchio, Director of Communications of the Ministry of Security in Buenos Aires, reported that Mr Payne "jumped from the balcony of his room". Police arrived at the hotel just after 17:00 local time in response to a distress call reporting "an aggressive man possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol", Mr Policicchio said.
During the call, which was already received by journalists, an agitated hotel manager was heard saying that they had "a guest under the influence of drugs and alcohol... He's destroying the whole room, please, we need help." The employee's voice became more anxious during this conversation and he also mentioned that the room had a balcony[1].
Alberto Crescenti, head of the National Emergency Medical System, told Argentine TV channel Todo Noticias that officials are investigating the circumstances of Payne's death, and an autopsy will be carried out to find out more details.
L. Payne fans rushed to express their grief by leaving many candles and flowers at the hotel
Following the news of Payne's death, many One Direction fans in Buenos Aires flocked to the Casa Sur hotel. Long queues formed outside the establishment, eventually barely containing a cordoned-off street with police officers on duty.
Forensic investigators were seen leaving the hotel, but Payne's own body was removed some three hours after the fall. Young women using their phones to film what was happening on the hotel grounds expressed their shock and grief, and a makeshift memorial quickly grew up outside the hotel, with many candles and bouquets.
"I've always been a big One Direction fan since I was a little girl", said 18-year-old Juana Relh, standing outside the hotel where Payne was found. "It's unbelievable to realise that he's dead and that there will never be a reunion between the guys again. It kills me."
"I didn't think he would die so young," said 21-year-old fan Isabella Milesi.
The former One Direction member had been pursuing a solo career for 8 years
L. Payne was one of the five members of One Direction, who came together after appearing on the British talent show The X Factor in 2010. This was two years after Payne's first attempt to enter the show. The second time, at 16, he sang a version of Michael Bublé's 'Cry Me a River'.
After all the youngsters failed to compete as solo artists, judges Simon Cowell and his colleagues decided to put Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson together as a group. Although One Direction did not win the competition, they have become one of the most successful boy bands in the world.
Each member had a distinctive personality and Payne, from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of England, was known as the most responsible member of the group. This musical project became famous for its pop music and romantic hits such as 'What Makes You Beautiful', 'Night Changes' and 'Story of My Life'. Mr Payne has distinguished himself with his solos on 'Stole My Heart' and 'Change Your Ticket' and has contributed to several of the band's hits.
By the time the band disbanded in 2016, One Direction had six hits in the Billboard Top 10 and a very loyal fan base, Directioners, comprised mainly of teenage girls[2].
After the band's breakup, Payne, like the other ex-members, embarked on a solo career in EDM and hip-hop music. His 2017 single "Strip That Down" featuring Quavo entered the Billboard Top 10 and stayed in the charts for several months. In 2019, Payne released his debut album, LP1, and his latest track, the single "Teardrops," was released in March this year.
His 7-year-old son with Cheryl Cole left without a father
After his death, Mr Payne was left fatherless by his son Bear Gray Payne, who was just 7 years old. He was born to his ex-girlfriend Cheryl, formerly known as Cheryl Cole when she sang in Girls Aloud. Cheryl was a judge on The X Factor when One Direction were on the show, although their romantic relationship began later.
Payne was also engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 to early 2022. Earlier this year, Henry published a novel that she said was inspired by their relationship. She recently said that the singer often talked about the feelings he had. He claimed that he knew he was going to die soon.
In addition to his son, Payne is mourned by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
