The sudden death of former One Direction member Liam Payne shocked the entertainment world, leaving fellow stars devastated, including an artist he once collaborated with on a major project.
Tributes from fellow stars continue to pour in as the entertainment world mourns the loss of Liam Payne, who tragically died at 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.
Liam Payne at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai on January 20, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Music producer Zedd was heartbroken and shared his grief on X (formerly Twitter) even though he couldn’t believe the news.
TV personality and DJ Paris Hilton also expressed sadness as she ended her tweet with “RIP my friend🥺.”
More musicians honored Payne with heartfelt condolences. Rapper Flavor Flav kept his message short but heartfelt acknowledging that the musician was too young to die.
British DJ and songwriter Jonas Blue also said farewell on the same platform as he posted a picture of himself and Payne.
Anne Twist, Harry Styles’ mother, reacted to Payne’s death with a heartbroken emoji on a black background on Instagram. In her caption, she wrote, “Just a boy … 💔.”
Singer-songwriter Charlie Puth shared his heartbreak on his Instagram (IG) Story as he reminisced about the kind of person Payne was to him.
Charlie Puth’s Instagram story about Liam Payne’s sudden death, posted on October 16, 2024 | Source: Instagram.com/charlieputh
In another IG Story, an upset Puth shared an old photo of him and Payne smiling at each other.
Charlie Puth’s Instagram story about Liam Payne’s sudden death, posted on October 16, 2024 | Source: Instagram.com/charlieputh
Just weeks before his passing, the late English musician supported Niall Horan by attending the Irish singer and songwriter’s concert on October 3.
Liam Payne shares a Snapchat photo with Niall Horan, posted it on October 3, 2024 | Snapchat.com/liampayne
Payne was excited to go to the concert and shared a Snapchat photo of Horan performing, captured from the large screen.
Liam Payne shares a Snapchat photo of Niall Horan’s performance, posted on October 4, 2024 | Snapchat.com/liampayne
In another picture he shared, he captured the audience with their phones held up and the purple-lit stage as he was proud of his friend.
Liam Payne shares a Snapchat photo of Niall Horan’s performance, posted on October 4, 2024 | Snapchat.com/liampayne
He also shared a backstage photo with Horan, where Payne wore a dark-colored jacket over a light-colored t-shirt while his famous pal sported a striped shirt. Both looked in good spirits.
Liam Payne shares a reunion photo with Niall Horan, posting it on October 3, 2024 | Snapchat.com/liampayne
Before attending Horan’s concert, Payne had celebrated his 31st birthday on August 29. He wrote about his simple wish for the day in a post as he walked alone on the street in a gray hoodie.
Liam Payne shares a video of himself walking alone on his 31st birthday, posted on August 29, 2024 | Snapchat.com/liampayne
While tributes continue to pour in, authorities are still investigating the circumstances of Payne’s tragic death. According to TMZ, Payne fell from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
Earlier that day, hotel staff called emergency services after he was reportedly acting erratically in the lobby, smashing a laptop and needing to be carried back to his room.
Alberto Crescenti, the director of Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Services, told ABC News that emergency services arrived at 5:11 p.m., just a few minutes after the hotel’s call. Unfortunately, there was no possibility of saving Payne, whose identity was only confirmed after he was pronounced dead.
Crescenti added that Payne’s body was found in the hotel’s inner courtyard. He further explained to the local media outlet TN that the singer fell from a height of 13 to 14 meters (42 to 45 feet) and described his injuries as “very serious” and “incompatible with life.”
Liam Payne attend the “Inside My Head – The Concert” at Royal Albert Hall in London on September 20, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Before the incident, Payne traveled to Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, for a vacation besides attending Horan’s concert. However, his girlfriend reportedly left on October 14, while Payne remained behind.
Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy in Los Angeles on June 28, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
With his recent death, Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole. The couple confirmed they were in November 2016, with Bear born in 2017.
In a 2018 interview, Payne discussed the joys and challenges of fatherhood. He said, “I always wanted to be a young dad, but I didn’t really expect that I’d ever be in this place.”
Payne also humorously referred to himself as “Dada Montana” as he balanced his music career with being a parent. Before becoming a dad, he gained fame at 16 when he joined the One Direction boy band.
The group was launched on “The X Factor,” alongside Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. Payne played a key role in their global success until the band disbanded in 2015.
Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne attend the 28th Annual ARIA Awards in Sydney, Australia, on November 26, 2014 | Source: Getty Images
The entertainment industry continues to mourn the loss of a beloved artist, with fellow stars remembering his talent and kindness. Our prayers go out to his family and all the fans who loved him.