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TL;DR:
- Liam Payne, former One Direction member, died at 31 after falling from a hotel window in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16, 2024.
- Payne had recently attended bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in Argentina and celebrated his 31st birthday in the UK.
- He had a successful solo career after One Direction’s hiatus in 2015, but faced struggles with substance abuse, completing treatment in 2023.
- Payne was a devoted father to his son, Bear, and his death has shocked the music industry and fans worldwide.
Liam Payne, a former member of the globally successful boy band One Direction, tragically passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the age of 31. The singer died after falling from the window of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to local police.
The incident occurred at a hotel on Costa Rica Street in the Palermo neighborhood of the Argentine capital. Buenos Aires police received a 911 call on Wednesday afternoon about an aggressive man who was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the hotel. While the police statement did not identify the individual as Payne, it was later confirmed that the singer had died at the scene.
Payne had recently been in Argentina attending his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert on October 2, as evidenced by videos shared on social media from the show. He had also celebrated his 31st birthday in the UK, according to posts on his Snapchat account.
Born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Payne was the youngest of three children. He studied music technology at the City of Wolverhampton College before rising to fame as a member of One Direction. The band, which also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, was formed in 2010 after each member appeared on the UK version of the reality competition show “The X Factor.”
One Direction went on to become one of the most successful boy bands in history, releasing five albums and embarking on world tours before announcing a hiatus in 2015. In a 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Payne expressed his love for performing and songwriting with the group, citing their song “What a Feeling” as one of his proudest co-writing achievements.
Following the band’s hiatus, Payne launched a solo career, releasing his debut album “LP1” in 2019. In May 2023, he announced plans for a new album and a tour, which was set to begin in South America in September of that year. However, the tour dates were postponed after Payne suffered a kidney infection.
Throughout his career, Payne had been open about his struggles with substance abuse. In the summer of 2023, he shared that he had completed treatment and was six months sober. Despite these challenges, he remained dedicated to his music, releasing the song “Teardrops” in March 2024.
Payne was also a devoted father to his son, Bear, born in 2017, whom he shared with former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole. In a 2023 YouTube video, Payne spoke fondly of his son, saying, “He’s awesome. He’s growing up far too quickly. He’s far more smart than I think I’ll ever be. He’s a wonder.”
The news of Payne’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the music industry and his global fanbase. Representatives for Payne and his former One Direction bandmates have not yet provided comments on the tragic event.
As fans mourn the loss of this talented artist, Liam Payne’s legacy as a member of one of the most influential boy bands in recent history and his contributions to the music world will undoubtedly be remembered and celebrated.
