Liam Payne, the British singer and former One Direction member, died at the age of 31 after a fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Local officials confirmed that the incident took place on Wednesday evening at the CasaSur Palermo hotel. Emergency services were called to the hotel in response to a guest behaving erratically. Payne fell from his third-floor balcony and could not be revived. His death was confirmed on site by Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system.
The singer had been in Argentina for several weeks, recently attending a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan. Payne was beloved by fans of One Direction, with the group achieving global fame through hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Story of My Life.”
In recent years, Payne had been candid about his struggles with mental health and sobriety, posting a video in 2023 celebrating six months of being alcohol-free. He is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear, and his parents and sisters.
Tributes from fellow artists and fans have poured in across social media, as many expressed shock and grief over the sudden loss.