One Direction singer Liam Payne found dead in Buenos Aires

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died at a hotel in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, police have confirmed.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne, 31, fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries”. Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

Police cordon off a hotel where Liam Payne was found dead in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Credit: AP

Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said Payne had died after a fall from the balcony of his room.

He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an aggressive man.

The hotel manager can be heard on an emergency call obtained by the Associated Press saying they had “a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol ... He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.” The manager’s voice became more anxious as the call went on, noting the room had a balcony.

Police said the hotel manager reported hearing a loud noise at the back of the hotel. Police who arrived heard a thud and found Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.

One Direction fans flocked from across Buenos Aires to the Casa Sur Hotel after the news broke, forming lines that spilled into the street. Young women at the scene expressed shock and heartbreak.

“I didn’t think he was going to die so young,” 21-year-old Isabella Milesi said. Video showed dozens gathered on the cordoned-off street outside the hotel.

“Our hearts are absolutely broken and we wish much light and strength for his family and loved ones,” MTV’s Latin American branch wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Payne 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 five members had each auditioned for the British singing competition series The X Factor in 2010, two years after Payne’s first attempt to get on the show. At 16, the second time around, Payne sang Michael Buble’s version of Cry Me a River, appearing nervous at the start but warming up with the audience’s cheers and applause.

After each singer failed to make it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined the five young singers into what would become one of the most successful boy bands even though they lost the competition.

Each member had their own persona, with Payne – who hailed from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region of England – being known as the responsible one. The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like What Makes You Beautiful, Night Changes and Story of My Life. Payne had prominent solos on songs including Stole My Heart and Change Your Ticket, co-writing several of the band’s hits. They had six top-10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016 and a highly loyal fan base, known as “Directioners”, many of whom were teen girls.

“I’ve always loved One Direction since I was little,” said fan Juana Relh, 18, outside Payne’s hotel. “To see that he died and that there will never be another reunion of the boys is unbelievable, it kills me.”

In a 2013 interview with AP, Payne said that it took some time to adjust to the public eye. “I don’t think you can ever deal with that, it’s all a bit crazy for us to see that people get in that sort of state of mind about us and what we do,” he said.

Payne’s solo career shifted toward electronic dance music and hip-hop. His 2017 single Strip That Down, featuring Quavo, reached the Billboard top 10. His last single, Teardrops, was released in March.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Payne’s One Direction and solo career helped garner a net worth of about $70 million.

Earlier this month, Payne attended the concert of his former bandmate Horan in Buenos Aires. The musician has been open in the media about struggling with addiction and spending time in a rehabilitation facility.

Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole at the Brit Awards 2018 in London.Credit: AP

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.

Payne had a seven-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend Cheryl, who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was a judge on The X Factor during One Direction’s season.

Payne is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and two older sisters. Representatives for Payne did not immediately return emails and calls.

Reuters, AP

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