Liam Payne dies aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band created adoring fans worldwide, was found dead on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital's fashionable Palermo district and suffered “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death at the scene, the statement said.

Pablo Policicchio, communications director for Buenos Aires' security ministry, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “jumped from the balcony of his room.” Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call shortly after 5 p.m. local time, he said, warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

In a 911 call obtained by the AP, the hotel manager can be heard saying there was “a guest who is overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol…He destroys the entire room and, well, us.” “Need you to send someone please.” The manager's voice became more and more concerned as the call progressed, noting that the room had a balcony.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state's emergency medical system, told Argentine television channel Todo Noticias that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy.

Payne had been vocal about his battle with alcoholism and posted one video in July 2023 on his YouTube channel, where he said he was sober for six months after treatment. Representatives for Payne did not immediately respond to emails and calls.

Dozens of One Direction fans flocked to the Casa Sur Hotel from across Buenos Aires after the news broke, forming lines that spilled out to the cordoned-off street in front of the hotel, where police stood guard. Forensic investigators were seen leaving the hotel from where Payne's body was removed about three hours after the fall. Young women filming on their mobile phones expressed shock and sadness as a makeshift memorial with rows of candles and bouquets of flowers quickly sprung up outside the hotel.

“I didn’t think he would die so young,” 21-year-old Isabella Milesi told the AP.

Payne was one of five members of One Direction, The band formed when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series The X Factor in 2010, two years after Payne's first attempt to appear on the show. At 16, Payne sang Michael Bublé's version of “Cry Me a River” for the second time, appearing nervous at first but warming up to the cheers and applause of the audience.

After none of the singers made it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson joined forces to form one of the most successful boy bands – even though they lost the competition.

Each member had their own personality, with Payne – who hailed from Wolverhampton, a city in the West Midlands region of England – known as the one in charge. The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits such as “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes,” and “Story of My Life.” Payne had prominent solos on songs such as “Stole My Heart” and “Change Your Ticket” and co-wrote several of the band's hits. By the time they disbanded in 2016, they had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts and a fiercely loyal fan base, the so-called “Directioners,” many of whom were teenage girls.

“I've always loved One Direction since I was little,” said 18-year-old Juana Relh, another fan outside Payne's hotel. “To see that he has died and that there will never be a reunion between the boys is unbelievable, it kills me.”

Payne had said that given his meteoric rise to fame, it took some time for him to get used to the public eye.

“I don’t think you can ever come to terms with that. It's a little crazy for us to see that people have that kind of attitude toward us and what we do,” he said in a 2013 interview with the AP afterward. He recounts an experience where a fan in was in a state of shock when he met him.

After the group's dissolution, Payne – like each of his former bandmates – pursued a solo career and shifted towards EDM and hip-hop. His 2017 single “Strip That Down” with Quavo reached the Billboard Top 10 and stayed on the charts for several months. He wiped out an album “LP1” in 2019 and his most recent release – a single called “Teardrops” – was released in March.

Payne had one 7-year-old son, Bear Gray Payne, with his former girlfriend Musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was a judge on The X Factor during One Direction's season, although their relationship didn't begin until years later. Payne was previously engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 to early 2022. Henry published a novel earlier this year that she said was based on their relationship.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his parents Geoff and Karen Payne and his two older sisters Ruth and Nicola.

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Huamani reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Natacha Pisarenko and Debora Rey reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina.