By Nell Geraets
The former members of One Direction have released a statement paying tribute to singer Liam Payne, who died this week at a hotel in Buenos Aires.
The tributes come as further details emerge about the 31-year-old singer’s death, including audio of the emergency call placed by the hotel manager shortly before Payne died.
“We have a guest who is intoxicated with drugs and alcohol,” the audio says in Spanish. “And well, when he’s conscious, he’s breaking everything in the room. We need someone to be sent, please.”
Argentinian media also obtained images of Payne’s hotel room, which show the damage referenced in the emergency call. They show a smashed television and drug paraphernalia scattered across the floor.
Payne died after falling from the third floor of Casa Sur Hotel around 5pm Buenos Aires time on Wednesday (7am Thursday AEDT).
His former bandmates led tributes, with Harry Styles writing on Instagram that Payne’s “greatest joy was making other people happy”.
The former members of One Direction have paid tribute to Liam Payne.Credit: Getty Images
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving,” the As It Was singer wrote. “The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”
As a group, Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik also shared their grief via One Direction’s Instagram account on Friday morning.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,” the statement read.
“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.”
Tomlinson and Malik also shared their own words on their Instagram accounts.
Simon Cowell, a former judge on British talent show The X Factor, who helped form One Direction in 2010, reportedly postponed audition tapings for Britain’s Got Talent after hearing news of Payne’s death.
ApplauseStore, which manages tickets for the talent show, wrote on X that the auditions, which were set to take place in Blackpool on Thursday (UK time), had been postponed due to “the tragic passing of Liam Payne”.
Payne’s family issued a statement to the media overnight, noting his “kind, funny, and brave soul”.
“Liam will forever live in our hearts,” they said in a statement published by the BBC. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Styles’ mother, Anne Twist – who has known Payne since he joined the boy band with Styles on The X Factor in 2010 – posted a photo of a broken heart emoji to her Instagram, writing “just a boy” in the caption.
The X Factor UK, which was cancelled in 2018, posted a photo of Payne on its X account, praising the singer for his “immense talent”, and adding that he will “leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans”.
Former presenter Dermot O’Leary also shared his memories of Payne auditioning as a teenager and the time they spent together on the show.
“The worst news,” he wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing. He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.”
Images obtained by Argentinian media show Liam Payne’s hotel room littered with drug paraphernalia the day of his death. Credit: Nine News
After One Direction broke up in 2016, Payne released LP1, his debut album, in 2019. His last release was Teardrops in March.
He worked with multiple artists during this period, including singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, who contributed to Payne’s single Bedroom Floor in 2017.
Puth shared photos and videos of the pair collaborating to his Instagram page and stories on Thursday. “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone,” he wrote.
The images also show a smashed TV inside the hotel room.Credit: Nine News
Payne also worked with DJ Zedd when creating Get Low in 2017. The German music producer said on X that he “can’t believe this is real”, adding that Payne’s death was “absolutely heartbreaking”.
Fellow boy band the Backstreet Boys wrote on X that their “hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends and Directioners around the world”.
Meanwhile, the London telephone box that features on the cover of One Direction’s 2012 Take Me Home album has become a place of mourning for fans. Directioners have left letters and flowers outside the phone booth at the Hard Rock café in Piccadilly Circus.
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