Liam Payne, the beloved former member of One Direction, has sadly passed away at the age of 31. His body was discovered on Wednesday, October 16, after an unfortunate fall from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires, as reported by CNN. Authorities confirmed that the incident occurred on Costa Rica Street in the Palermo district.
Initial reports indicate that police were summoned to address an “aggressive individual” believed to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol, according to Reuters.
This shocking news has left fans heartbroken, both from the One Direction fandom and those who admired Liam’s solo endeavors following the band’s hiatus in 2015. Alongside his bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, Liam contributed to some of the most memorable hits in pop music, including the iconic “What Makes You Beautiful.”
Following One Direction’s hiatus, Liam Payne pursued a successful solo career, debuting his first single “Strip That Down” in 2017, which was a precursor to his album LP1. Beyond his music, Liam was a devoted father to his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, whom he shared with ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole. The couple had a relationship from 2016 to 2018.
Liam’s romantic life continued to make headlines with his relationship with model Maya Henry, whom he began dating in 2019. They experienced a brief split in 2021 but reconciled later that year, ultimately parting ways for good in 2022. Recently, however, Henry reportedly took legal action against Liam, sending a cease-and-desist letter to address claims of obsessive contact, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Liam’s last social media activity came in May when he paid tribute to the late filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. He shared a touching photo with his former bandmates alongside Spurlock, who directed the 2013 documentary One Direction: This Is Us and passed away after a battle with cancer. In the post, he wrote, “Rest in peace Morgan Spurlock, it was a pleasure working with you.”
