Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The singer, who rose to fame as part of the very successful boyband was pronounced dead on Wednesday, October 16.
Emergency services responded to a call from a hotel manager about an "aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol". A preliminary autopsy has been conducted, revealing that Payne suffered internal and external bleeding from the fall.
One Direction, formed in 2010 on X-Factor, became one of the world's most successful boybands, selling over 70 million records before they split in 2016. They each went on to pursue successful solo careers.
Payne's former bandmates - Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik - released this joint statement: "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly."
Zayn Malik revealed the complexity of their relationship: "Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and [didn't care] about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it."
Louis Tomlinson called Payne "the most vital part of One Direction". On Instagram, he said, "I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul."
He also made a touching reference to Payne's son, saying, "I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was."
Harry Styles remembered Payne's "infectious" energy for life, "His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honor to be alongside him as he did it. Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious."
At the time of his death, Payne was in a relationship with influencer Kate Cassidy, whom he had been dating since October 2022. Before this, he had been engaged to Maya Henry. Their relationship began in 2019 and was marked by periods of separation and reconciliation before ending definitively in May 2022. Just a week before Payne's death, Henry had issued a cease and desist order, claiming that Payne continued to contact her.
One of Payne's most significant relationships was with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole. The two first met in 2008 when Payne, then 14, auditioned for The X Factor where Cole was a judge. Years later, their relationship turned romantic, though the exact timeline is unclear. In 2017, they welcomed their son, Bear, who is now 7 years old. After Payne and Cole's romantic relationship ended, Payne admitted to suffering from mental health issues. They continued to co-parent their son after their split.
As the music world mourns the loss of this talented artist, fans and fellow musicians alike are sharing their memories and tributes to Liam Payne across social media platforms.
The Independent contributed to this article.