Liam Payne was ‘overwhelmed’ by legal woes with ex-fiancee Maya Henry leading up to his death
New details have emerged about Liam Payne’s turbulent relationship with ex-fiancee, Maya Henry, as mystery still surrounds the singer’s tragic death.
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Fresh details have emerged about Liam Payne’s legal woes with his ex-fiancee, Maya Henry, after he fell to his death from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old singer was in Buenos Aires for his former bandmate Niall Horan’s tour when his body was found in the inner courtyard of the Hotel CasaSur in Palermo at around 5pm Wednesday local time.
Payne’s ex-partner, a 23-year-old model, was reportedly “in shock” over the former One Direction band member’s death, with the tragedy coming just one week after Henry issued a cease-and-desist order for allegedly repeatedly contacting her, according to the Daily Mail.
An unnamed source came out to People, telling the American celebrity magazine that Payne “was extremely overwhelmed by all of the legal issues” involving Henry in the days leading up to his death.
The former couple were reportedly engaged before calling off their relationship in 2022.
In a TikTok shared on October 6 by Henry, she alleged that her ex — whom she doesn’t name, but associates with “One Direction fans” — continues to “blow up” her phone.
“It’s always from different phone numbers too. I never know where it’s going to come from … Also [he] will email me,” Henry claimed.
“Not only me, but he’ll blow up my mom’s phone. Is that normal behaviour to you?”
“Also messaging my friends,” she continued. “I found out later so they could go over to his house apparently.”
CONFLICTING REPORTS ON PAYNE’S BALCONY FALL
Mystery surrounds Payne’s death amid conflicting reports on whether he was even conscious when he fell, as it emerged he was dropped by his record label days earlier.
In a statement, Buenos Aires Security Ministry communications director Pablo Policicchio said that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.”
However the 31-year-old’s autopsy found Payne didn’t assume a reflex position, suggesting he may have been partly or fully unconscious when he fell, according to local new outlet Fiscales.
PAYNE DROPPED BY RECORD LABEL
It comes as the Daily Mail cited several unnamed sources as saying the singer was axed by Universal Music Group.
His most recent solo single Teardrops was released in March but had only had six million Spotify plays since then compared to more than one billion streams for his 2017 solo debut hit Strip That Down with Quavo.
“Liam’s advance was massive and he didn’t recoup [it],”, one source said, according to the publication, adding “Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically.”
It’s believed Payne’s second album release was put on hold before he was dropped by Universal. In another big blow, Payne’s PR representative also resigned earlier this month.
‘DESTROYING THE ROOM’: DISTRESSING 911 CALL
In a 911 call obtained by AP, the hotel’s manager reportedly notified authorities that it had “a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol,” adding, “He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.”
Meanwhile, two women who may have been the last people to see Payne alive provided statements to police, Argentina’s prosecutor’s office said.
The women left the hotel without Payne after waiting for him in the lobby on the day of his death, according to local news outlet Infobae. There is no indication the women were in any way involved in the stars’s fatal fall.
Police are also said to be looking into whether a drug dealer was involved before Payne’s death, with local media publishing photos from inside Payne’s hotel room appearing to show white powder and burnt aluminium foil.
ONE DIRECTION BAND MEMBERS BREAK SILENCE
It comes as Payne’s former One Direction band members broke their silence a day after his death.
In a joint statement the band said: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say.
“But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
“We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
In a separate personal tribute, Harry Styles shared a picture of Payne and said his “greatest joy was making other people happy”.
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles said on Instagram, adding “The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”
Louis Tomlinson described Payne as “the most vital part of One Direction” in his personal tribute.
“I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother,” Tomlinson said in his post on Instagram, adding “His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.”
Zayn Malik shared a photo of him and Payne embracing while sleeping in the back of a car during their early band days.
“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” Malik wrote on Instagram.
PAYNE READS OUT HEARTBREAKING LETTER
One of the revelations that emerged in the past couple of days following his death was a heart-wrenching reflective letter of hope Payne had written to his 10-year-old self.
Payne revealed in the note he’d, at one point, “feel like giving up.”
In 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Payne featured on BBC Radio 1 where he shared the note he had written for his younger self.
“Get Ready, it’s about to get a little bumpy,” he wrote.
“Cherish every moment with your loved ones right now, as there’s only a few more family holidays to enjoy, life is about to turn surreal.
“You know that thing you love, singing, keep it up, when you turn 14, something magical is going to happen, and I’m not talking about puberty.
“Not only will you audition for one of the biggest music shows in the world, but you’ll also meet the future mother of your child.”
FAMILY, WORLD REACTS TO PAYNE’S DEATH
Payne’s family issued a statement asking for privacy at this “awful time”.
“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Simon Cowell, who created X factor where One Direction was formed, cancelled a taping of Britain’s Got Talent following Payne’s death.
“This news has hit Simon incredibly hard – he is utterly shocked and devastated,” a source told The Sun.
The tragic ending to the story of Payne’s life plunged millions of One Direction fans into shock and grief.
Fans sobbed as they sang the boy band phenomenon’s 2013 hit Story Of My Life as they gathered outside the Buenos Aires hotel where Payne died.
Unlike other boy bands such as Take That and N’Sync, One Direction did have a regular hand in songwriting, providing them with guaranteed future revenue.
The website Celebrity Net Worth estimated Payne’s fortune to be $US70 million ($A105 million).
On the band’s third album Midnight Memories, Payne was credited as a songwriter on nine tracks and on Four, their next LP, he had credits on seven tracks. He also had songwriting credits on three tracks on his only solo album, LP1.
Payne also had a number of lucrative commercial partnerships.
In 2019 he became the face of menswear label Hugo Boss, with a special collection named after him. In 2020 the collaboration deepened, with the singer announced as the face of Hugo Boss Fragrances.
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