Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, dies after fall from hotel

By Isabel Debre | Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.” He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Arriving police heard a thud and found Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy. He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.

Liam Payne performs during Wild 94.9’s Jingle Ball 2017 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

One Direction members Niall Horan at left, and Liam Payne, right, lead the group on stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

LiPo Ching /Bay Area News Group

From left, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson, of the British boy band One Direction, perform at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. (LiPo Ching /Bay Area News Group)

Liam Payne performs during Free Radio Live held at Genting Arena on November 11, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

Liam Payne performs during Wild 94.9’s Jingle Ball 2017 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Liam Payne poses for pictures on the red carpet during Wild 94.9’s Jingle Ball 2017 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Liam Payne of One Direction makes a surprise visit to Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush on August 2, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images for Westfield)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 26: Liam Payne from One Direction takes a selfie with fans at the 28th Annual ARIA Awards 2014 at the Star on November 26, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – AUGUST 11: (L-R) Singers Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan of One Direction accept Choice Group award onstage during the Teen Choice Awards 2013 at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 11, 2013 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 19: Liam Payne performs onstage during the MTV VMA Kickoff Concert presented by DirecTV Now at Terminal 5 on August 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for MTV & DIRECTV NOW)

LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Musicians Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction perform onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

BERLIN, GERMANY – APRIL 12: Rita Ora and Liam Payne perform on stage during the Echo Award show at Messe Berlin on April 12, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 13: Liam Payne performs during the TAB Everest Race Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse on October 13, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for The ATC)

English singer Liam Payne attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

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Liam Payne performs during Wild 94.9’s Jingle Ball 2017 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

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Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel where he said he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.

Argentine media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.

Payne was one of five band members of One Direction, which formed in 2010 when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” After each singer failed to make it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined Payne, Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands.

The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful.” They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016. They had a loyal fan base, many of whom were teen girls, who became known as “Directioners.” Once the group disbanded, Payne pursued a solo career, putting out the album “LP1” in 2019. His last release was a single called “Teardrops,” in March.

Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction’s season. He is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Representatives for Payne did not immediately return emails and calls.

Check back for a more complete obituary.