One Direction’s Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 – what we know

One Direction's Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 - what we know

Top line

Liam Payne, the English singer who rose to fame as a member of the band One Direction, died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, suffering multiple shocks and bleeding, according to a report by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor. office.

Pictures, messages and flowers appear in honor of Liam Payne in front of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires… [+] Iris, where Bane fell to his death.

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Key Facts

Buenos Aires police issued a statement on Wednesday saying that Payne fell from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital, sustaining “very serious injuries,” and paramedics declared his death on the spot.

A toxicology report is still pending, but autopsy results released by officials Thursday said he died of multiple trauma and internal and external bleeding.

Authorities said substances were found in Payne’s hotel room, indicating alcohol and drug use prior to his death, and the investigation so far indicates the musician was under the influence of alcohol and was alone when he fell.

The Associated Press quoted a local official as saying that Payne “jumped from the balcony of his room,” and forensic experts later explained that his body position indicated that “he did not adopt a reflexive position to protect himself and that he could have fallen.” A state of semi- or total loss of consciousness,” according to NBC News.

Police were reportedly rushed to the scene just after 5 p.m. local time after the hotel manager made an emergency 911 call complaining of a guest “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” who had “destroyed some items in the room.”

According to the BBC, the manager also expressed concern that the guest “has a balcony, and we are afraid they will do something that will put their lives in danger.”

Local officials said they had launched an investigation into the death, and the BBC reported that the British Foreign Office was in contact with Argentine authorities regarding the matter.

Payne’s family issued a statement to British media on Thursday: “Liam will live forever in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave spirit.”

Get text alerts for breaking news from Forbes: We fire up text message alerts so you always know the top stories making up the day’s headlines. Text Alerts to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

Crucial quote

The other four former members of One Direction issued a joint statement Thursday afternoon on Instagram, saying they were “absolutely devastated” by Payne’s death and would take “some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, whom we loved so dearly.”

How did One Direction members respond to Payne’s death?

All of Payne’s former bandmates made individual statements on Instagram starting Thursday. Zayn Malik has postponed the US leg of his tour — which includes shows scheduled for this month — due to the “heartbreaking loss he suffered this week,” writing on Saturday that shows will be rescheduled for January. Previously, Malik said that although he and Payne “butted heads,” he feels like he “lost a brother.” Niall Horan, whose concert Payne attended just two weeks before his death, described Payne as “the brightest in every room” and said he felt “very lucky to have seen him recently”. Louis Tomlinson praised Payne as “the most vibrant member of One Direction”, and Harry Styles described his time with Payne as “among the most treasured years of my life”.

Who did you react to Payne’s death?

Simon Cowell, the “X Factor” creator and judge who brought One Direction together in 2010 after all five members auditioned as individuals and signed them to his record label, said he felt “sad” and “empty” in a statement on the afternoon of Friday. Payne’s ex-girlfriend, Cheryl Cole, with whom he has son Bear, said on Instagram that she was working through her grief and urged the media to stop “exploiting” Payne’s death. Cole was an “X Factor” judge at both of Payne’s auditions in 2008 and 2010, and the two dated from 2016 to 2018. Payne’s friend Kate Cassidy said in an Instagram Story on Friday that she was “at a complete loss” and asked for space to grieve, saying she loved Payne “unconditionally and completely.” Cassidy, whom Payne has dated on and off since 2022, was with Payne in Buenos Aires until Monday, the day she posted a TikTok video depicting her trip from Argentina to Florida. Shawn Mendes stopped his concert in Brooklyn on Friday to honor Payne, saying: “The world is crying for you, brother, and we are all praying for your son and your family.” Payne’s sister, Ruth Gibbons, posted an emotional message on Instagram, saying: “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

One Direction’s music returns to the streaming charts

One Direction’s music has risen on the Spotify charts following Payne’s death. The band was the most streamed artist in their native United Kingdom on Thursday and ranked second on Spotify’s global artist list. The band’s song “Night Changes,” one of their biggest hits with an emotional message about aging and the fleeting nature of life, was the sixth most streamed song worldwide on Spotify the day after Payne’s death. “Night Changes” also ranks sixth on TikTok’s weekly trending songs chart, with fans using it in videos to honor Payne.

One Direction fans and Liam Payne gathered outside the hotel to light candles in an impromptu ceremony… [+] The altar after the British musician’s death on Wednesday night.

Anatolia via Getty Images

The group of fans gathered outside the hotel can be heard singing One Direction songs.

Anatolia via Getty Images

Fans of British singer Liam Payne cry next to the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires.

AFP via Getty Images

One Direction fans also mourned Payne’s death on social media.

AFP via Getty Images Main background

Payne was a member of One Direction – a band created by judges on the British show “The X Factor” in 2010 – alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. They didn’t win the season, but the group enjoyed astronomical success after the show and went on to have stadium tours and a number of hit songs including “Story of My Life” and “Best Song Ever.” The band announced that they would be taking a temporary hiatus in 2015, despite Malik’s departure earlier that year. Payne subsequently continued his career and released his first solo album, LP1, in 2019, before continuing to produce pop, hip-hop, Latin and electronic music. Payne spoke about his struggle with addiction in recent years, and said that he suffered from suicidal thoughts when he was a member of the band One Direction. In a 2023 YouTube video, Payne said he spent 100 days in rehab and became “more in control of life and everything that was moving away from me” after getting sober. Payne has had four chart-topping songs and one top 10 Billboard hit in his solo career, 2017’s “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo. He released his latest song, “Teardrops,” earlier this year. Payne also had a child in 2017 with Cheryl Cole.

Mary Whitfill Roelofs contributed reporting.

Further readingCNNLiam Payne, former One Direction member, has died at the age of 31 | CNNABC News Former One Direction star Liam Payne dies after falling from hotel in Argentina: Police

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *