Liam Payne, formerly of One Direction, was tragically found dead outside a Buenos Aires hotel following a fall from the balcony of his third-floor room, Argentine police reported on Wednesday.
The capital’s police responded to an incident at a hotel in the Palermo area, after receiving reports of an “aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol.”
According to the hotel manager, a significant noise was heard from the rear of the hotel. Upon arrival, police discovered an individual had fallen from his room’s balcony.
Emergency services confirmed the death of the 31-year-old British singer; he was found in the courtyard of the hotel.
“I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me,” American singer Charlie Puth said on Instagram. “He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone.”
Expressions of sorrow and condolences for his family and loved ones were shared by MTV, Spotify, and the BRIT Awards through their social media platforms.
In 2017, Payne and Cheryl, a British TV personality and singer with Girls Aloud, had a son named Bear.
A hotel worker had earlier contacted police for urgent assistance with a heavily intoxicated guest, according to an audio clip from the Buenos Aires security ministry.
“When he is conscious, he is destroying the entire room, and we need you to send someone,” the worker said, adding that the guest’s life was at risk because their room had a balcony.
Emergency personnel later removed the body to transport it to the morgue, amidst applause from the gathering crowd of fans and onlookers, many of whom were visibly emotional.
Crowd Gathers To Mourn Boy Band Star
Liam Payne gained international stardom with One Direction, a group that included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.
The group, which started on the British show X Factor in 2010 and disbanded in 2016, was ranked as the third greatest boy band of all time by Entertainment Weekly in 2024. Payne’s career in the band and his solo efforts amassed a net worth estimated at $70 million.
Media reported a large crowd outside the hotel, with police and emergency teams securing the area as evening approached.
Hernan Palazzo, a local employee, commented to Todo Noticias TV on the impact of the event, noting the arrival of numerous police and fans, and describing the atmosphere as very sad.
One Direction fan Violeta Antier, having learned of Payne’s death, told Reuters she had seen him recently at a concert by Niall Horan, another band member.
“I saw him two weeks ago at a Niall (Horan) concert, another One Direction member. He was there, I saw him,” she said. “He was ok.”
On October 2, Payne attended Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires, part of a Latin American tour. The two were seen together in videos with fans.
Payne had openly discussed his mental health struggles and his past reliance on alcohol to manage the pressures of fame.
Last year, he shared a video with fans on his YouTube channel talking about his decision to stop drinking and his gratitude towards those who supported him during challenging times.
Earlier on Wednesday, Payne had posted on Snapchat about enjoying his time in Argentina, mentioning horse riding, playing polo, and his eagerness to return home to see his dog. “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he noted in the video.
