Liam Payne: Former One Direction singer dies aged 31

October 17, 2024 Keed

Key Points

Singer Liam Payne has reportedly died in Buenos Aires.
Police said he was found dead after falling from the third floor of a hotel.
The 31-year-old rose to fame as part of the boy band One Direction.

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, police have confirmed.

Local media reported on Wednesday that the 31-year-old British musician was found dead after falling from the third floor of a hotel in the city.

Citing officials, leading local newspapers La Nacion and Clarin reported that police were called to the hotel in the capital’s Palermo neighbourhood responding to an emergency call that cited “an aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.

Payne was found in an interior hotel patio, according to the news reports.

Singer Liam Payne rose to fame as a member of British boy band One Direction. Source: Getty / Dave J Hogan

Earlier on Wednesday, Payne had appeared to post on Snapchat about his trip to Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.

“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he said in the video.

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

Who was Liam Payne?

Born in the English city of Wolverhampton, Payne rose to global fame as part of the since-disbanded pop band One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

The boy band got its start after finishing third on the British version of the X Factor music competition show in 2010, but the group broke up in 2016 as its members pursued different projects, including solo careers.

Five young boys dressed in black suits and ties pose for the camera.

Liam Payne, second from right, rose to fame as a One Direction member. Source: AP / Jonathan Short

In 2017, Payne released his debut solo single Strip That Down to commercial success. It peaked at number three in the United Kingdom and number 10 in the United States.

He released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019 which included the singles Polaroid and Familiar.

Payne had a son, Bear, in 2017 with former Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole.