By Samantha Schulz

The singer Liam Payne who was known for being in the teenage boy band One Direction passed away at 31 years old. He fell off the third-story balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 16. 

The police were called according to BBC, prior to dealing with a man acting erratically and under the influence. They found Payne’s body in the courtyard of the hotel after the hotel staff sent him back to his room and locked him inside.

According to the autopsy that was released, he had multiple injuries including external and internal bleeding with sufficient head injuries which resulted in his death. He had many illegal substances in his system the day of his death. Fans thought that was odd because in July of 2023 he had discussed how he was sober for six months after going to a treatment facility. 

Payne was on the X-Factor in 2008 at the age of 14 where he auditioned with the song “Fly Me to the Moon,” often sung by Frank Sinatra. The judge Simon Cowell cut Payne and told him to come back in two years. He auditioned again in 2010 at the age of 16.

Judges Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell gathered a group of teenage boys who became a British boy band One Direction. Payne was one of five teens in the band with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik.

One Direction went on to win third in the X-Factor competition, signed with Cowell’s record label, and became a global sensation. They sold millions of records, had five successful albums, and sold out many tours. In 2016 all of the members were on hiatus claiming it would only last 18 months, but the singers have continued their solo careers. 

Payne came out about his mental struggles in interviews while he was in the band, where he talked about how he would drink before going on stage to manage the stress he had. The band was often locked in hotel rooms every night by management because the fans were too much. He discussed how much trauma he had from being locked in hotel rooms because he would do was get intoxicated, and thought eventually if he didn’t get out of the band that would be how he would die. 

Payne released his first solo album in 2019 called “LP1” and in 2023 he announced that he was working on his second album. He released the single “Teardrops” in March of 2024. 

After his tragic death, many fans and celebrities have left messages and tributes. Celebrities include all members of One Direction, his partner Cheryl Tweedy, Simon Cowell, and his family. Many of them have shared the love, affection, and condolences for his inner family and friends, and more specifically his son Bear who is only seven years old.

Vigils have been built by fans in many places to mourn the star’s death, including one outside the hotel where his father and former manager Paul Payne visited just a couple days after his death.

The star’s funeral will take place this week after his body is brought back to the UK, where it is rumored that there will be a One Direction member reunion and many A-list celebrities who are doing tributes will attend due to how loved he was in the community.