Photo Credit:Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Liam Payne, the 31-year-old former One Direction singer, died Wednesday after falling from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires' Palermo district. According to city ambulance spokesperson Alberto Crescenti, Payne fell approximately 40 meters, sustaining "severe injuries incompatible with life."
The incident occurred shortly after 5 PM local time, following reports of disturbing behavior. Hotel staff had contacted authorities about an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol," according to police statements. Security audio recordings revealed a worker's urgent plea: "When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room... the guest's life was at risk because the room had a balcony."
Just days before his death, Payne had been active on social media, sharing moments from his Argentina trip. His final Snapchat posts showed him with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, discussing Halloween costume plans and enjoying local activities. "It's a lovely day here in Argentina," he remarked in his last video.
The tragedy comes amid personal turbulence. Last week, Payne's ex-fiancée Maya Henry, 23, had issued a cease and desist letter through attorneys Marco Crawford and Daniel Cerna, citing "new and concerning information." Henry had recently accused Payne of "obsessive" contact attempts through multiple phone numbers and email accounts.
Charlie Puth also expressed his shock on Instagram: "Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone." A close friend told the Daily Mail, "Liam had been struggling, he just wanted to be a good person... He worked so hard but just couldn't quite get over his pain."
Payne's journey to stardom began at 14 when he first auditioned for X Factor in 2008. He made a comeback in 2010, forming One Direction with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. The group achieved remarkable success, with over 29 Billboard Hot 100 hits and six top-10 singles.
Following One Direction's 2016 hiatus, Payne pursued a solo career, releasing his album "LP1" in 2019 and collaborating with artists like Rita Ora. His final single, "Teardrop," was released in March 2024. He leaves behind a six-year-old son, Bear, from his relationship with
singer Cheryl Cole, and an estimated net worth of $70 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Fans gathered outside the hotel following the news, including Violeta Antier, who had seen him at Niall Horan's Buenos Aires concert just two weeks prior. "He was ok," she recalled, highlighting the shocking nature of his sudden passing.
