Former One Direction member Liam Payne was found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room, Argentine authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
According to a statement from local police, officers responded to a call from the hotel in Palermo, a leafy district of the capital, following reports of “an aggressive individual possibly under the influence of drugs and alcohol.” The hotel manager reported hearing a loud noise from the rear of the property, and police arrived to find that a man had fallen from the balcony attached to his room. Emergency responders later confirmed that the deceased was the 31-year-old British singer, whose body was found in the hotel’s interior patio.
“I’m in complete shock,” said American artist Charlie Puth on Instagram. “Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first big artists I had the chance to collaborate with. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Expressions of grief flooded social media, with platforms such as MTV, Spotify (SPOT.N), and the BRIT Awards offering condolences to Payne’s family and loved ones. Payne, who shared a son named Bear with British TV personality and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, welcomed the child in 2017.
The boy band One Direction got its start after finishing third on the British version of The X Factor music competition in 2010. Despite their early loss, the group achieved immense global success, selling 70 million records and winning dozens of awards. They disbanded in 2016, with each member pursuing solo careers. In 2024, Entertainment Weekly ranked One Direction as the third-best boy band of all time.
Payne’s career with One Direction, as well as his solo projects, helped him amass a net worth of approximately $70 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Known for co-writing some of the group’s biggest hits, including “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life,” Payne had also spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and his battle with alcohol. Last year, he posted a video to his YouTube channel, discussing his journey toward sobriety and expressing gratitude to fans for supporting him through difficult times.
Earlier on Wednesday, Payne had shared updates on Snapchat about his trip to Argentina, mentioning horseback riding, playing polo, and looking forward to reuniting with his dog back home. “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he said in the video.
Reuters reporters at the scene described growing crowds gathering outside the hotel as police and emergency services cordoned off the area.
One fan, 25-year-old Yamila Zacarias, spoke about her emotional connection to One Direction, explaining that her family had tried hard to get her tickets when the band performed in Argentina. “I didn’t go because my parents didn’t have much money,” she said. “He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life when I was searching for something to belong to, and being a One Direction fan became that for me. This was the only time I could applaud him.”
Another fan, Violeta Antier, said she rushed to the hotel after hearing the news from her sister. “I saw him two weeks ago at Niall’s concert,” she said, referring to fellow One Direction member Niall Horan, who performed in Buenos Aires earlier this month as part of a Latin American tour. “He was there. I saw him. He was okay.”
On October 2, Payne attended Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires, where the two former bandmates were seen together in videos shared with fans. Horan’s tour spanned multiple countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia.
Police audio obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry revealed that earlier in the day, hotel staff had requested urgent help for an intoxicated guest. “He’s conscious but destroying the room,” a hotel employee said in the recording. “We need help immediately because the room has a balcony, and his life is at risk.”
Emergency workers transported Payne’s body to the morgue as fans gathered outside the hotel, some embracing and crying. Many broke into applause as the singer’s remains were carried away, paying tribute to the man whose music had touched millions.
