Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31: NPR

Liam Payne, here at the film's 2023 premiere All these voicesa documentary about his One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.

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Liam Payne, a singer who rose to fame as a member of the successful boy band One Direction, has died in Buenos Aires, according to multiple news outlets. He was 31.

The Associated Press obtained a statement from Buenos Aires police saying Payne fell from the third-floor window of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo district of the Argentine capital. Pablo Policicchio, spokesman for the Buenos Aires municipal security department, sent a statement to the Associated Press saying police were dispatched after a 911 call about an “aggressive man who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” arrived and found Payne's body in the courtyard of the hotel.

AP reports that officials are still investigating the events that led to Payne's death. NPR reached out to Payne's representatives but did not receive a response.

With five albums released in the 2010s, One Direction became a global phenomenon. Supported by singles like “Live While We're Young” and “Best Song Ever,” the quintet charted a path from reality show runner-up to complete teenage fixation.

Payne was born in Wolverhampton, England in 1993. He initially applied for The X Factor Britain in 2008, but was not selected to progress by judge Simon Cowell. He returned in 2010.

“I think Simon did the right thing and I wasn’t ready,” he said said as he introduced himself to the jury on stage. “Now I’m 16, back and ready to try again.”

He then launched into a cover of Michael Buble's rendition of “Cry Me A River.” His second attempt at the reality TV competition earned him thunderous applause, but Payne was almost eliminated in the following rounds. Instead of being sent home, he was chosen to form a group with four other boys who would also fail in the solo categories: Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Styles suggested a name and it stuck.

At the turn of the millennium, the boy band was at the center of the pop zeitgeist, but a decade later, by the time Payne and his bandmates emerged from reality competition, the format had lost much of its luster. One Direction found widespread acclaim in the UK and US almost immediately, with the group's classic rock-influenced debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” breathing new life into the model.

With 2014 FourThe boy band made history when they became the first group to land their first four albums – all released between 2012 and 2014 – at number 1 on the charts billboard 200. In 2014, they also had the highest-grossing tour of the year, which became one of the most successful shows of all time. The band garnered a loyal following during their existence and helped open the door for other international acts to follow, such as: E.g. BTS.

After Malik left the group in 2015, One Direction released one final album: Made in AMas a quartet before taking an indefinite break in 2016. When the group later won Video of the Year at the 2017 Brit Awards for their song “History,” Payne was the only member present. Speaking alongside Cowell, he said: “The sheer dedication our fans have shown to this online is absolutely amazing. “We've taken a bit of time to work on our solo material, but One Direction is who we are and what we will become whoever we are.”

When the members split up to pursue solo careers, Payne was the third to make his debut: The Album, LP1was released in 2019 and spawned a handful of popular singles, including “Strip That Down” featuring Migos frontman Quavo and “For You” featuring English singer Rita Ora. It was his only album; in 2023, Payne revealed Rolling Stone that he was working on a follow-up and released the single “Teardrops” in March.

In one video In a post on his YouTube page in 2023, Payne discussed his battle with alcoholism and his sobriety, detailing his decision to enter a treatment program in Louisiana, where he spent several months. “Since then I’ve just been trying to get to know this new guy,” he said, signaling himself.

Payne leaves behind a 7-year-old son, his parents and two sisters.

Sheldon Pearce contributed to this story.