Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, died October 16, after falling into a hotel’s interior patio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. The Argentine Director of Emergency Medical Services, Alberto Crescenti, confirmed to CBS News, that an ambulance arrived within seven minutes. He did not specify whether Payne fell by accident or intentionally.
Payne was in Argentina to attend a concert by his former bandmate, Niall Horan, and had shared videos online of his trip. Last year, Payne postponed his South American tour, which included stops in Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, due to a severe kidney infection that required hospitalization.
Liam Payne, born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, England, became famous as a member of the boy band One Direction. His music career began early when he first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, but he didn’t make it through. He returned in 2010 and was placed in a group with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik to form One Direction. Although the band finished third in the competition, they went on to become one of the biggest pop acts of the 2010s, releasing hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” and selling millions of albums worldwide.
When One Direction took a break in 2016, Payne started a solo career. His debut single, “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo, became a hit. He explored different music styles, including pop, R&B, and electronic, and worked with artists like Rita Ora and Jonas Blue. In 2019, he released his first album, LP1.
While he found success in music, Payne also faced personal struggles. He spoke openly about challenges with fame, mental health, and substance use. According to TMZ, “Liam revealed in June 2021 that he struggled with alcohol and prescription drug addictions at one point when One Direction was on tour, and things got so bad he had “severe” suicidal thoughts.”
Payne’s personal life was often in the spotlight. He was engaged to British singer Cheryl, with whom he has a son named Bear, born in 2017. Despite the band’s break, he stayed close to his former bandmates and supported their projects over the years.
Rest In Peace.
