British musician Liam Payne, a former member of the boy band One Direction, died on Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, local police said. His death caused deep shock to millions of fans around the world.
What happened?
“Liam James Payne, songwriter and guitarist, former member of the group One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo”, a district of the Argentine capital, police announced Wednesday in a press release. The latter responded to “a call to 911 (the emergency number) reporting an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the press release continues.
According to emergency chief Alberto Crescenti, emergency services were called at 5:04 p.m. local time (8:04 p.m. GMT) and a medical team arrived seven minutes later, but they could only “note the death of this man”. Liam Payne suffered “very serious injuries following his fall of approximately 14 m”. “There was no possibility of resuscitation,” he declared on local television.
An investigation into the causes of death has been opened. An autopsy is also awaited. The British Foreign Office confirmed it was in contact with Argentine authorities over “the death of a Briton”, but declined to comment on the matter.
According to Billboard magazine, Liam Payne attended a concert by ex-One Direction, Niall Horan, in Buenos Aires on October 2. He had shared videos of the concert, which he attended with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, on his social media. A few hours before his death, he posted this message on his Snapchat account: “It’s a beautiful day in Argentina. »
Who was Liam Payne?
Liam Payne, born August 29, 1993 in Wolverhampton, was with Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles the members of One Direction, one of the most lucrative boy bands in the world. ‘1D’, as they were nicknamed by their fans, are a product of the TV show ‘The following year.
In 2016, they released their fifth and final studio album, “Made in the AM” and announced a break in the group’s career, never formalized as a separation.
Liam Payne then announced that he was working on a solo album, following in the footsteps of other band members. His single “Strip that Down” ranked tenth on the US Billboard Top Songs chart. In December 2019, he released his first solo album “LP1”. Last year, he announced that he was working on a second album and released a new single in March 2024.
In recent years, Liam Payne has openly spoken about his problems with alcoholism and the difficulties associated with fame. In a 2023 video posted to his YouTube account, he admitted to being admitted to a rehab center for his alcohol addiction: “I kind of became someone I didn’t really recognize anymore. And I’m sure you don’t recognize it either,” he said then.
First tributes
A few minutes after the announcement of his death, many fans and curious people gathered silently in front of the door of the hotel where the death was noted. Reactions from personalities then quickly flooded into social networks.
“I remember him, then a 14-year-old, turning up for The X Factor audition and blowing us away by singing Sinatra,” the show’s host, Dermot O’Leary, wrote on Instagram. below a photo of him and Liam Payne.
“RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real… It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” German music producer Zedd, who worked on the song “Get Low” with Payne in 2017. “So devastated by the news of Liam Payne’s passing. Love and condolences to his family and loved ones. RIP my friend,” wrote former model and singer Paris Hilton on X.
“Rest in peace Liam,” wrote Brazilian singer Camila Cabello, for whom the singer “mattered” in her childhood. Swedish music streaming giant Spotify said on X it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Liam Payne, sending its thoughts “to his family, friends and the many fans who loved and supported him”.
