Liam Payne, a former member of the boy band One Direction, has died at 31 after falling off the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne has left behind his son, Bear, who is seven years old.
Staff at the hotel Payne was staying at had called the police in urgency before Payne’s death on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
“We have a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol,” the hotel manager said on the call according to CNN. “He breaks things up. He is tearing the whole room apart.”
Due to Payne having a balcony, the manager had told the call operator that he and the other hotel staff were worried that he would do something. The news site TMZ posted distressing photos of the scene where Payne died almost immediately after the tragedy, leaving close to nothing unsaid with pictures of the drugs, including pink cocaine, at the scene.
Payne, who was a beloved member of the boy band during the early 2010s, rose to stardom with One Direction at sixteen-years-old on The X Factor in 2008. The group sang and captured hearts all over the world, jump starting their career that would turn into a nearly six year dominance in the music industry. One Direction remains one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, selling more than 70 million records worldwide and continuing to be listened to by fans today.
While the fame was bright and their songs reached people all over the world, Payne spoke openly in 2019 that being in the band and performing as often as they could took a toll on his mental health.
“When you’re doing hundreds and hundreds of [concerts] and it’s the same 22 songs at the same time every single day, even if you’re not happy, you’ve got to go out there,” Payne said to Men’s Health Australia in 2019 according to CNN.
Payne admitted that he often drank before going onstage to try and alleviate the stress, and while it was fun and the group had a blast, it got toxic fast.
After the group split, each went on their individual journeys. Payne released his debut solo album “LP1” in 2019 and, in March of 2023, released the single “Teardrops.” In the summer of 2023, Payne announced he was six months sober after going through a treatment program. Payne was on the rise for better, but this tragic event has devastatingly struck both the music industry and the fans all alike.
Tributes have been pouring in from everywhere, all over the world.
“I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra,” former X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary said. “He just loved to sing. He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful and was always humble.”
Outside of the hotel in Buenos Aires, fans gathered and lit candles, singing the One Direction song “Infinity” in mourning for Payne.
Payne’s impact on the world will not be forgotten, as he left a mark on the music industry, his fans and aspiring stars alike. Students at West Essex have given their reaction to Payne’s death shortly after hearing the news.
“I was really shocked,” Junior Alivia Lugo said. “Personally, I was never really a huge One Direction fan, but it still shocked me. I know a lot of people have been super sad about it because Liam was the one who wanted a reunion.”
The tragedy of his death and how it relates to the One Direction reunion doesn’t end there.
“When I first saw on my friend’s story that Liam Payne died, I was in denial,” Junior Mirolla Twdroos said. “So, I looked it up and saw Liam Payne’s unexpected death at 31 years old on a news site. I was in shock because Liam Payne was a big part of my childhood in one direction, and then I got really sad because I realized that their reunion is going to be at his funeral.”
Payne suffered from a multitude of struggles, but it is with this where the realities of the harsh music industry expectations come to light. His death is a tragic mark of what needs to be changed in the music industry.
Payne’s immeasurable impact on all generations will always be remembered from not only his amazing music but his kind, positive personality that lit up stages worldwide, and he will be missed incredibly by fans and non-fans alike.
Photo Credit: “CCME 2019 (Por @Rocio_ML_)” by YourWay Magazine is licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
