Liam Payne, one of the five former members of One Direction, has passed away at the young age of 31. Liam died after falling from the third story window of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He’d been in Argentina for at least two weeks, having made his last public appearance at former bandmate Niall Horan’s October 2 concert. His girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, reportedly left the country on October 14. Liam released a solo album LP1 in 2019 and most recently, the single “Teardrops” in March 2024. He leaves behind his son with Cheryl Cole, Bear, who was born in 2017, as well as his parents and two older sisters. As of writing this, there isn’t a lot of information available because it’s still an ongoing investigation.
Liam Payne, a former member of boyband One Direction, has died after falling from the window of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to police there. He was 31. Payne’s death occurred Wednesday at a hotel on Costa Rica Street in the Palermo neighborhood, according to a statement from police provided to CNN.
Buenos Aires police said that personnel from the 14B Police Station went to the hotel on Wednesday afternoon after receiving a 911 call about an aggressive man who was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The police’s statement did not identify that person as Payne. Payne was seen in Argentina attending his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert on October 2, according to videos posted to social media from the show.
Payne was best known as a member of the famed British boyband One Direction. The band, which also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Horan, first formed in 2010 after each member appeared on the UK version of reality competition show “The X Factor.”
CNN has reached out to representatives for Payne as well as his former One Direction bandmates for comment.
“I do love being on stage,” Payne said of performing and songwriting with the group in a 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly. He said he was most proud of co-writing their song, “What a Feeling.”
“That was a big one that me and Louis sat and wrote together,” Payne recalled. “It just kinda came together. It was inspired by a Fleetwood Mac sound. It’s just a nice driving jam — imagine driving down the coast.”
One Direction announced they were taking a hiatus in 2015. Payne later released his debut solo album in 2019 titled “LP1.” In May 2023, Payne announced that he was working on a new album that he was “really excited” about, and shared that he was planning a tour.
The tour was set to kick off in South America in September 2023, but Payne had to postpone the scheduled dates after suffering a kidney infection. In March of this year, Payne released the song “Teardrops.”
Payne had a son, born in 2017, who he shared with former Girls Aloud singing group member Cheryl Cole. In a video shared on YouTube in 2023, Payne talked about the love and affection he felt for his son, Bear.
“He’s awesome. He’s growing up far too quickly,” Payne shared at the time. “He’s far more smart than I think I’ll ever be. He’s a wonder.”
This is really sad, especially because he leaves behind a seven-year-old son. My heart breaks for Bear, now having to grow up without his father. It’s just really sad. Liam had a gorgeous voice and a lot of talent. Our thoughts go out to Bear and the rest of Liam’s family and loved ones.
Liam Payne sings his verse in #OneDirection's "More Than This" – RIP 💔 pic.twitter.com/RIefy11ks8
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 16, 2024
Photos via Instagram/Kate Cassidy/Liam Payne and credit: James/Smart Pictures/Avalon, Olivier Huitel/Avalon, James Shaw/Avalon, Robin Pope/Avalon, Mike Gray/Avalon, Best Image/Backgrid
When is TMZ gonna be deplatformed? They were horrible when Perry died, now mere minutes/hours after Liam died, they had pictures of his body posted in their website. That site is full of scum and trash.
I couldn’t believe it, I don’t give them any clicks, but people describing the photos were enough for me. How is that anyway legal?
They are also the reason Vanessa Bryant found out that her husband and child died from a Google alert. I think she won some millions of dollars from LA county about that. They’re ghouls. There’s no need to be the first to release information to the extent that you are showing dead bodies and asking for photos of crash sites.
Dee, when I found out that TMZ broke the news of Kobe and Gigi’s death before Vanessa Bryant had even been told, I blocked TMZ everywhere and haven’t clicked on a news article from them since. That was evil. There is no bottom to that cesspool site.
I called their tip line yesterday to berate them about posting death photos. Such vultures
I hope more folks call in. They are freaks for posting pictures of people who just died. No shame.
Condolences to the loved ones. 31 is no age to go. Liam’s poor son..
@Caroline, They removed them after backlash. The feedback like yours probably helped. It is still so disrespectful they published it in the first place.
TMZ is owned by Rupert Murdoch, but Harvey is disgusting enough to have made the call on his own and allow that photo to be published. Remember he was basically blackmailing Justin Bieber into joining his trash show because he had video of him saying n*gger on tape. Disgusting and deviant behavior.
I couldn’t believe the news when I read it. I actually cried and I’m not a One Direction fan at all. I just cried for the loss of such a young life. People really liked to pile on him when he would mess up and I know he had some issues with a girlfriend but man — 31 years old and dead? Heartbreaking.
The issue with his ex-fiancé was, he was harassing her. She talked about the abuse she went through with him and he never stopped harassing her and her family even after they broke up. People now started going after her for speaking out. It is all a mess. That is why women stay silent.
They started dating when she was 19 and he was 25, she wrote a book inspired by their relationship detailing a lot of domestic abuse apparently.
There was a cease and desist order issued the day before he died, and now his fans are directly blaming her for his death.
Last video he posted on social media was a rather abrupt interaction with his current girlfriend too.
The photos of the absolutely destroyed hotel room littered with drugs and drug paraphernalia were triggering.. it looked like he had a very violent rage happening and I highly doubt it was an isolated incident. That is not normal behavior, I will always believe the victim until proven otherwise.
@Hypocrisy, she said that he surrounded himself with enablers not helping him. That photo of the room was really sad. He needed help, but it is hard when the person can’t see it themselves. I am sorry for his young child who will grow up without his father now.
I see now that Maya the young woman he abused is being blamed. This is why women don’t come forward sharing about their abuse. The same people who were clowning him for his plastic surgery or making snarky remarks to his girlfriend are the same ones who will harass my now.
Liam could have gotten therapy while he was alive instead of abusing his then girlfriend, but instead he moved onto another relationship and only she knows what she endured. I maintain that the loss is heartbreaking, but we can still be honest about how he lived.
The ex-girlfriend’s book, Maya Henry, included a plotline where the main character, an aspiring model, falls in love with a famous popstar. The main character also gets an abortion by herself and there are complications due to that. Maya hasn’t confirmed if she became pregnant by Liam so I don’t want to assume that part is true but she did confirm she did get an abortion and that the character’s experience was very similar to her own.
It doesn’t seem like Liam was a great partner, he even admitted this in an interview. It seems like he had a lot of demons and tried to get sober by going to rehab. In all too familiar story of a kid becoming super famous at such a young age and being unable to face the pressures of superstardom. My heart goes out to his family, his son, and his One Direction band members, can’t imagine what they are all going through.
They were first photographed together when she was 18.
Shocked. The loss of a young life especially leaving behind a young child is tragic.
31 is so young.
His young son now Fatherless..
Tragic.
TMZ are ghouls and those pics should be banned!
Wow. I was never a big one directioner, but as someone who used to be in the music industry myself and left, it awlays makes me sad when I see young people who’ve so clearly been struggling for a long time. The industry eats people up and spits them out, and many of these stars come from working class families who have no idea how to handle the fame rollercoaster/ money/ hangers on/ drugs etc. Bieber et al come to mind as well. I doubt Simon Cowel gave a shit about these boys after he made his money off of them. A lot of very broken people in that industry.
I’m 55 but I loved one D!
Your point is exactly! Cowell and his ilk spit them out. Zayn suffered. Liam seemed OK. But the ex who wrote a ‘fiction’ book saying he physically abused her, and did a TT outing him. Everyone believes it and was trashing him. Then he falls.
Remember what Cowell did to that Susan woman? She had major mental health issues. These people are ghouls.
I’m delighted that Harry became the amazing success that he is, cross genres, seems smart and adjusted.
RIP Liam. Bear has lost his dad. Liam’s family lost a brother and a son.
So Maya is a lier? just like Amber, Angelina and every other woman who accuses a rich, famous man of being an abuser… Sarcasm
Liam has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse as well as his mental health for a long time. He has discussed it at length.
You’re re-writing history in the most misogynistic way.
Wait, are you saying that the ex should not have written a book about being abused?
Unless it’s reported to the authorities, it’s gossip. What normal person writes a book saying it’s fiction and heavily intimates it’s her ex? No police report or investigation? Just gossip and rumor.
Her behaviour doesn’t help anyone.
Signed,
A dv and rape victim (who went to the cops even at my own peril)
Those boys were so young when 1D started, and they were just worked into the ground. You could actually see the difference in them a few years in, when they all looked tired, pasty and dead-eyed on some international tour. I think they’ve all had issues at some point, and Liam had got very messy.
It’s just very sad.
I didn’t follow them that closely but I thought a warning with Liam was his hooking up with Cheryl He was 16 when they first met, talk about! So that was messy. I mostly followed Harry post 1D. Liam seemed OK during it all
Mostly. I didn’t know what happened more recently. I still think Cheryl has things answer for. These boys were young, thrown through the meat grinder, abused and spat out without life skills in between. I feel so sad for his family and bear especially, how this will be treated.
Not my generation so not a fan, but I’ve been watching various social media videos of him from the last few years and he looks like he was very, very drugged out.
He and the rest of 1D were put through the wringer from 2010-2015. 5 albums, over 500 concert dates plus countless media appearances. Simon Cowell and co made them his cashcows. He has a lot to answer for.
Liam Payne had a lot of demons, and while he made a lot of questionable choices, I do hope that he’s at peace and his family one day will be too. A damn shame and a loss of what I believe to have been a lot of unrealized talent and potential to addiction and mental health issues.
First off my condolences to his loved ones. 31 years old and an accidental death is awful for everyone involved!
Next, we’ve gotten a bit wiser about the effects of fame, especially at a young age. In retrospect, children and teenagers need much more protection and guidance than entertainment is willing to provide.
RIP Liam. My heart goes out to his son. And leave his ex alone.
1D came out when my interest in manufactured pop stars had long since faded so I don’t know much about this guy. 31 is too young and I hope his son grows up loved. As for Simon Cowell, he’s no more responsible for Liam’s tragic fate as he is Harry Styles’ meteoric success.
I’m aware of 1D bc they were everywhere for 5 years.
I think Liam did try to get help, rehab, etc.
I know he was very open talking about his depression and addiction problems. I do think that helps others realize they can and should ask for help also, without shame.
I hope his family and young son are getting all the support they can.
Out of (morbid?) curiosity I just went to look at his current girlfriend’s instagram, and the COMMENTS. Jfc it is BRUTAL. So many accounts accusing her of pushing him, and then when it’s pointed out she wasnt there, the same accounts are saying “so why did she leave him alone to die?”, and then multiple other “I hope you’re happy now” comments, and tons of “you need to tell us what happened?!”.
Like what is WRONG with people?!? Supposedly 1D fans are all fully adults now correct? How is this behaviour considered okay?
I really struggle with being on SM still tbh – I feel like it’s a good way to stay informed on world events, but people are disgusting.
Always the woman who gets the blame! I didn’t follow One Direction, the only ones I could recognize were Harry Styles and Zayn Malik. The other 3 were interchangeable to me. But I was aware one of them had become a father through his relationship with a much older English singer which always skeeved me out, I didn’t realize it was Liam right away when I saw the news (Cheryl Cole will always come across as creepy for that). I’m sure Maya Henry and Kate Cassidy’s social media profiles are being attacked by crazy fans, especially the videos where Maya talks about being harassed by Liam. However, the only person responsible for Liam’s death is Liam himself. He clearly had a lot of demons and substance abuse issues. It’s such a tragedy he died so young and left behind such a young son.
This is so sad. He didn’t seem to be able to deal with the group dismantling. TMZ should be run out of business for this grotesque lack of boundaries, respect and decency. His parents didn’t need to see this and his child most certainly should never have to . Disgusting.
No one other than medical team should see the body.
No reason to ever put that on the internet.
His loved ones do not need more pain.
That goes for all people, dignity and privacy.
People and TMZ should be ashamed. Showing this man’s dead body omg. And People has made his ex a target when she had enough evidence of being stalked and harassed to get a restraining order. It can be true that he harassed her horribly AND that he was in great emotional turmoil and fighting demons. She isn’t the bad guy and to put a target on her back just extends the tragedy
This was in my city, which feels surreal. Everything about this feels that way, really. Apparently the guy was pretty much a ticking bomb at this point. It’s so unbelievably tragic.
It’s a very small, boutique-like hotel in a very quiet street. One of my company’s clients is a business right next to the hotel and I visit almost weekly. It was very strange to listen to the news when I had just been there!
I am in absolute shock.. It doesn’t feel real. So sad.. I am sending love to his family, friends and fans.
Extremely sad for his parents and friends. The hotel employees should have stayed with him until help arrived.
Have you heard the 911 call? He was acting violently and erratically. He was taken to his room. Hotel staff called the police and in Argentina we do not have any rights overy any person’s body. He could not be restrained by any other than a police officer.
His parents have issued a statement “Heartbroken” OMG, yes.
The loss of a child at 31, who leaves behind an 8 y/o grandson is a tragedy.
Then to have this played out on SM, even worse.
Vultures = Rupert Murdoch and TMZ. No shame at all.
“Authorities have confirmed the deceased to be” would have been the decent way to state it.
Imagine having to tell his 8 y/o. Then try to protect him from all the garbage on SM, for years. Just cruel.
The long long list of talented musicians who struggle with fame and drugs is so sad.
Imagine at 14 to 22 being under that level of stress and constant workload, plus everyone wants something from you, etc.
Btw, Stephen Baldwin needs to STFU at once.
That has-been keeps talking about Justin B. as if he has any right. Shut up, show some class and dignity, mind your own biz.
The state his room was in gives every indication he was under the effects of different things and he might have not been alone, at all.
I feel for everyone who loved him and knew him, and the millions of fans mourning him too.
If it turns out that someone on his payroll was enabling his drug usage like with Matthew Perry, Michael Jackson, and Elvis I want serious jail time for leeches like that.
You know his family will carry the “What if” and “If only” soul crushing grief with them forever.
The loss never leaves you. He has family, a human loved and lost, all ready.
The Daily Mail is starting an entire round of gossip and details from the initial medical report. Filthy vultures.
The mud slinging is going to go on for weeks.
I’m off the Internet for today, maybe the rest of the week.
Be kind folks. We all need it more and more.
I remember back in the day the One Direction songs were uplifting and fun for me. When I heard the news last night, it was hard to believe, but falling out of a hotel window is not a common thing, and the thought of some other influence came across my mind. I had not kept up with him, and I didn’t know he was struggling. I’m so sad he didn’t make it through and come out the other side. Didn’t know he was harassing a girl to such an extent. Doesn’t that type of behavior signal some mental health issues? I’m sure she wanted to be left alone, but didn’t want this outcome. One doesn’t always get to see the flip side of the coin. I’m not on social media, but I don’t think the former band members have responded yet. His death made me very sad. This is so sad.
Sounds like it was an alcohol or drug induced accident, which is a shame. That’s, what, 3-4 members of the band who have struggled with addiction now? You get the sense the industry is not easy to navigate those problems without a strong support system in place if you start as young as they were. A shame for his family, most of all.
I feel awful for his fans, because when Kurt Cobain died, GenX was rocked. Friends of mine were bereft, they thought they should have known and done something, which is bonkers, but we were in our early 20s.. It’s horrible when a hero of your generation dies. We were probably numbed by River Phoenix dying earlier.
This was not a good man, and I really hope the ripple effect of a celebrity suicide doesn’t happen, but it always does. I am so sorry this is now his son’s reality. He’s going to be fetishized like Francis Bean.
I’m not a big 1d fan but my nieces were when they were younger. I did follow the gossip of some of them here and there so I knew when he dated Maya, she was only 18. She only spoke about her relationship with him recently(before then she was just quiet). I didn’t know he still obsessively tried to contact her even after they broke up.
It’s just sad overall because he had dreams about making it big and just wanted to sing. The music/entertainment industry can be very cruel- they care about you when you’re big but then drops you when you’re a has been. It’s sad that he didn’t get the help he needed.
I also feel very sorry for Maya and what she went through and yeah many of 1D fans are going after her, even though it’s not her fault that she spoke up about the abuse .
Condolences to his family esp to his young son.
I’m kindve glad with some of the new gen z artists now, they’re more in control of their career instead of producers and music execs trying to take advantage of them.