Liam Payne's mother reveals: 'I heard my son and his girlfriend arguing loudly and then…'

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Liam Payne, 31, a former member of the world-renowned British boy band One Direction, was found dead Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local authorities said.

Buenos Aires police said Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo district of the Argentine capital, suffering “extremely serious injuries.” Doctors confirmed his death at the scene, the statement said.

A hotel manager, speaking on a 911 call obtained by AP, described Payne as “a guest overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol … He’s destroying the entire room and we need someone to come quickly.” The manager’s voice grew more anxious as the call progressed, mentioning that the room had a balcony.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical service, told Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV that authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding her death and carrying out an autopsy.

Payne had been open about his struggle with alcoholism, sharing a video on his YouTube channel in July 2023 where he revealed he had been sober for six months following treatment. Payne’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Following the news, dozens of One Direction fans gathered at the Casa Sur Hotel, forming long lines that stretched out to the street, which had been cordoned off by police. Forensic investigators were seen leaving the hotel, where Payne’s body was removed about three hours after the fall. Fans, many of them young women, filmed the scene on their phones, expressing shock and distress. A makeshift memorial quickly sprang up outside the hotel, complete with candles and flowers.

“I never thought I would die so young,” said Isabella Milesi, 21, one of the fans.

Payne was one of the five original members of One Direction, which formed after the group auditioned for the British singing competition “The X Factor” in 2010, two years after Payne’s first attempt to join the show. At age 16, during his second audition, he performed Michael Bublé’s rendition of “Cry Me a River,” initially nervous but warming to the audience’s applause.

After all of the singers failed to progress as solo contestants, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges decided to group Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson together into a new act, which would go on to become one of the most successful boy bands in history, despite losing the competition.

Each member of the band had his own personality, with Payne, a native of Wolverhampton, England, being the most responsible. One Direction became known for its pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life.” Payne had featured solos on tracks like “Stole My Heart” and “Change Your Ticket,” and he co-wrote many of the band’s songs. By the time the band broke up in 2016, they had racked up six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts and a fiercely loyal fan base known as “Directioners,” many of whom were teenage girls.

“I’ve always loved One Direction since I was little,” said Juana Relh, 18, another fan outside Payne’s hotel. “To see that they died and that there will never be another reunion of the boys is unbelievable, it kills me.”

With his rapid rise to fame, Payne had said it took him some time to adjust to living in the public eye. “I don’t think you can deal with it, it’s kind of crazy for us to see that people have that kind of mindset about us and what we do,” he said in a 2013 interview with the AP after recalling an experience in which a fan was shocked to meet him.

Following One Direction’s split, Payne, like his other former bandmates, pursued a solo career, turning toward EDM and hip-hop. His 2017 single, “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo, reached the Billboard Top 10 and stayed on the charts for several months. He released his album “LP1” in 2019 and his latest single, “Teardrops,” came out in March.

Payne has a 7-year-old son, Bear Gray Payne, with his ex-girlfriend, musician Cheryl, known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was a judge on “The X Factor” during One Direction’s season, although their relationship began years later. Payne was also engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 until early 2022. Henry released a novel earlier this year, which she said was based on their relationship.