By Summary:
- Payne fell from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room.
- A hotel worker had called for assistance regarding an intoxicated guest.
- The music industry is in shock and mourning, expressing deep grief.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires after the 31-year-old fell from the balcony of his third-floor room, Argentine police said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the capital’s police said they were called to a hotel in the Palermo neighborhood after receiving reports of an “aggressive man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”
The hotel manager said he heard a loud noise at the back of the hotel, and when police arrived they found that a man had fallen over the balcony in his room, the statement said. Emergency workers confirmed the death of the British singer, who was reportedly found in the hotel’s interior patio.
“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 had the chance to work with. I cannot believe he’s gone.”
U.S. music channel MTV, streaming service Spotify, and the BRIT Awards expressed their grief on social media, sending condolences to his family and loved ones.
Forensic investigators at the hotel where Liam Payne was found dead. Photo: AP
Payne had a son named Bear with British TV personality and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl in 2017.
Neither Payne’s record label, Republic Records, nor its parent company, Universal Music Group, could immediately be reached for comment.
Police had received a call from a worker at the hotel requesting urgent help with an intoxicated guest, according to audio related to the case obtained 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 responders removed Payne’s body from the hotel and transported it to the morgue. As fans and bystanders gathered throughout the evening, some hugging and crying, they burst into applause when his body was taken away.
Crowds Gather to Mourn Boy Band Star
The “For You” singer rose to global fame as part of the since-disbanded pop band One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson. The boy band got its start after finishing third on the British version of the X Factor music competition show in 2010, but the group broke up in 2016 as its members pursued different projects including solo careers.
One Direction was ranked the third best boy band ever by Entertainment Weekly in 2024. The group won dozens of major awards and sold some 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Payne’s time with One Direction and his solo career helped him amass a net worth of some $70 million.
Reuters reporters at the scene saw crowds gathering outside the hotel, where dozens of police and emergency services teams had cordoned off an area as night fell on the city. One 25-year-old fan, Yamila Zacarias, said her family had made a lot of effort so she could see One Direction when they came to Argentina, but she ultimately didn’t attend because her parents couldn’t afford it at the time.
Police cordon off a hotel where English musician Liam Payne, a former member of the band One Direction, was found dead after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
“He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life at this time when you’re trying to be a part of something, and being a One Direction fan became that something for me,” she said. “This was the only time I could applaud him.”
One Direction’s Liam Payne, second from right, poses for a photo with fellow band members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Tomlinson at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London, Sept. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Jonathan Short, File)
Violeta Antier, another fan, told Reuters she had come straight away after her sister told her Payne had died. “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.”
Payne had on Oct. 2 attended the Buenos Aires concert of his former bandmate Niall Horan on the Argentine leg of a Latin American tour that spanned Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia. The two had posted videos together and with fans.
Payne, who co-wrote many One Direction songs including “Night Changes” and “Story of my Life”, had previously spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and using alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
Last year he published a video to fans on his YouTube channel in which he spoke about his family, making new art and performing again after having given up alcohol. He thanked supporters for sticking with him through difficult times.
Earlier on Wednesday, Payne had appeared to post on Snapchat about his trip in Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.
“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he said in the video.
Musician and former One Direction member Liam Payne has died at age 31.
