Liam Payne, Former One Direction Star, Dies at 31 in Buenos Aires

Liam Payne, known for his role in the boyband One Direction, passed away on Wednesday at 31. The British singer reportedly fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Payne was found dead at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in the Argentine capital, as confirmed by the Argentine police. He is believed to have died after falling from the third floor of the hotel.

The police responded to a report about an aggressive man who was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is still unclear whether this report was about Payne. The director of the Argentine emergency services later confirmed Payne’s death following a fall of approximately 13 to 14 meters. The cause of his death is still unknown; police are investigating whether it was an accident, but suicide has not been ruled out.

Liam James Payne was born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, England. From a young age, he showed interest in music and performed in local productions. Payne rose to fame in 2010 by participating in the British TV show ‘The X Factor’. He formed the immensely successful boyband One Direction with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson. The group released five albums between 2011 and 2015, with hits such as “What Makes You Beautiful”, “Kiss You”, “Story Of My Life”, and “Night Changes”.

After One Direction disbanded in 2016, Payne embarked on a solo career. His best-known solo tracks include “Strip That Down”, “Polaroid”, and “Midnight”. His most recent single, “Teardrops”, was released earlier this year.

Besides his music career, Payne was known for his openness about personal struggles. He spoke publicly about his battles with mental health and alcohol use, especially during the peak of One Direction’s fame. In 2019, he spent a hundred days in a rehab facility, an experience he described as crucial to his recovery. Payne was also a devoted father to his son Bear, born in 2017 from his relationship with singer Cheryl Cole, and remained closely involved in his upbringing despite his busy schedule.