On October 16th, 2024, artist and former One Direction member Liam Payne was pronounced dead at 31 years old after falling from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Palmero, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne had been visiting Argentina to attend former bandmate Niall Horan’s The Show world tour, and according to his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, issues with Payne’s O-1 Visa required him to extend the trip by two weeks. Payne was alone for this duration, during which hotel guests reported that he was behaving erratically. One hotel guest, who identified herself only as Rebecca, told the New York Post that Payne’s behavior was “out of place.” “There was something a bit desperate about him,” she said, describing the encounter she had with Payne in the hotel lobby. “He suddenly said to us without prompting, ‘Yes, I’m Liam! All right, come on, you lot, I love a cuddle.’ Suddenly, he took [his] computer, shouted ‘F–ck this s–t, mate!’, and started bashing the computer on the ground.” Startlingly, Rebecca claimed that Payne then told her, “I used to be in a boy-band. That’s why I’m so f—ed up.”
While Rebecca’s encounter is only alleged, the hotel staff did make a 911 call regarding Payne prior to his death, which was obtained by the Washington Post. Local police visited the hotel after the manager requested an emergency response, saying, “We have a guest who is drunk on drugs and alcohol… When he’s conscious, he’s breaking up the whole room… We need you to send someone, please.” Then, chillingly: “I don’t know if this guest’s life is at risk. They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk.” Shortly after the police visit, Payne fell from his balcony, sustaining critical traumatic injuries that Buenos Aires’ public emergency medical service director described as “incompatible with life.” Later, Payne’s autopsy determined that he was likely unconscious at the time of the fall, and a toxicology report found that he had a multitude of drugs in his system, including cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack cocaine, and “pink cocaine.” Pink cocaine is a cocktail of drugs; typically methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine. This is supported by police photos of his hotel room that depict “cristal”—Argentinian slang for crystal meth—drug residue and supply. Payne had been in rehab in 2023 and had presumably relapsed into addiction.
A career like Payne’s has been achieved by few. One Direction was formed in 2010 by X-Factor judges Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger when members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Liam Payne competed on the show. Together, they went on to release 4 albums together, and one final album after Malik left the band in 2015. All 5 albums released by One Direction debuted at number one on the Billboard music charts. The band was short-lived, existing only for six years until the group began their “indefinite hiatus” in the summer of 2016. In these six years, One Direction went on four world tours, won nearly 200 music awards, and grossed over $290 million. No band in the last 15 years has had success comparable to that of One Direction, with widespread fan hysteria similar to that of Beatlemania. One Direction has set the bar for bands of the 21st century.
The wild levels of fame reached by One Direction members may have led to lifelong success, but they also caused undeniable trauma. Malik revealed that the pressure of the band caused him to develop an eating disorder, and Tomlinson cites the early years of the band as fueling his struggles with self-confidence. Payne struggled with addiction and suicidal thoughts during the band’s success, according to a Diary of a CEO interview. “The day the band ended, I was like, ‘Thank the Lord’… I needed it to stop or it would kill me,” he said. He went on to describe the setting as “toxic and difficult.” He even specifically said, “Being trapped in lonely hotel rooms really f—ed me up.” In 2014, Payne even posted a photo of himself standing on a rooftop ledge. Payne’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry published a book in May of 2024, Looking Forward, that is a not-so-subtle retelling of her experience with Payne; she refers to One Direction as “Five Forward”, Harry Styles as “Cary”, and the X-Factor as “Star Power.” In the book, Henry depicts Payne as struggling with drug-induced mental health episodes, during which he exhibited violent behavior towards both her and himself, including one instance where he allegedly chased her with an ax. Henry told People Magazine, “Obviously the book is fiction… but it’s definitely inspired by true events.”
Payne leaves behind his seven-year-old son, Bear, parents Karen and Geoff, his sister, Nicola, and girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Each of his former bandmates posted statements to social media after his passing, and together posted a joint statement to the official One Direction social media accounts. “We will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,” part of the statement read. “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever… We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.” To celebrate Payne’s life and raise awareness for addiction and men’s mental health, fans have set up memorials in various cities globally. To pay your respects locally, there is an ongoing memorial at Boston Common.
