BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — On Oct. 16, former One Direction member Liam Payne, at the age of 31, passed away after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne was in Argentina to attend a performance by Niall Horan, his bandmate from One Direction, but no one could have anticipated that this would be his final journey.
According to Buenos Aires police, Liam’s fall caused severe injuries, leading to his death on the spot. Witnesses reported that before the incident, Liam exhibited erratic behavior in the hotel lobby, including smashing a laptop. He was escorted back to his room by hotel staff.
Authorities suspect he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Images released by Argentine media from Liam’s hotel room showed a broken TV screen, along with white powder, candles, and foil on the table — details that have raised concerns about his mental state during those final moments. Just an hour before his passing, Liam was still posting happy moments with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, on Snapchat during their visit to Argentina. He was smiling and sharing a video of them dining together, captioned: “Lovely day in Argentina.”
Liam's passing has left a deep sadness for many, especially for those who have loved him and One Direction from the beginning. He was the group’s big brother, a symbol of strength and maturity. Liam began his career at 14 when he competed on “The X Factor UK.” Two years later, he returned to this show as a member of the boy band One Direction. Although they did not win the competition, One Direction became one of the biggest boy bands of the era, selling over 70 million singles worldwide. Since One Direction’s hiatus in 2016, Liam continued his career as a solo artist. In February 2024, he released his last single, “Teardrops.”
The day after Liam’s passing, other members of One Direction each posted emotional tributes to him. Never before had the name Liam appeared on Harry Styles’s, Zayn Malik’s, Louis Tomlinson’s, and Horan's Instagram with such sorrow:
“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me. I can’t help but think selfishly that there were many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” Malik said.
Meanwhile, Horan commemorated Payne’s “energy for life and (his) passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.”
Styles noted how his heart broke for Payne’s family, including his parents, sisters and son Bear Payne.
“A message to you, Liam, if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have you in my life,” Tomlinson expressed. “But I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye.”
The official One Direction Instagram page, after four years of silence, also returned with a post expressing the members’ sorrow over Liam's sudden passing. Many fans had been hoping for a reunion after these four years, though certainly not one under such tragic circumstances.
Just like Payne once said, “Dreams are like stars. You may never catch them. But if you follow them, they will lead you to your destiny.” Now, he has truly become a bright star in the sky.