Liam Payne, former member of the globally renowned boyband One Direction, has tragically passed away at the age of 31. The singer was found dead on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
According to a report by AP, Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of the Argentine capital. Despite immediate emergency response, Payne sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, confirmed that Payne had jumped from the balcony of his hotel room. Local authorities were called to the scene after the hotel manager reported erratic behavior from the singer, with concerns that he may have been under the influence of substances.
The incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Payne’s death has left fans and the music world in shock, as the singer was known for his struggles with mental health, including a public battle with alcohol and prescription drug addiction. In June 2021, Payne opened up about his struggles, revealing that he had experienced severe suicidal thoughts during One Direction’s tours.
Payne, who joined One Direction in 2010 at the age of 16 after competing on The X Factor, quickly rose to global stardom alongside bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik. The group became the biggest boyband in the world before disbanding in 2015.
Payne’s personal life had recently garnered media attention following allegations by his ex-fiancée, Maya Henry, who claimed that Payne pressured her to undergo an abortion and had broken off their engagement.
