Former One Direction star Liam Payne passed away on Wednesday after falling to his death from his hotel room in Argentina, police reports confirm. He was 31.
Following news of his tragic demise, his final Snapchat post and many other photos believed to be from his hotel stay, soon went viral online. Among the many posts that flooded social media, was an 911 audio call made shortly before his demise.
According to the call, the singer was allegedly acting erratically and was believed to have been under the influence of drugs. According to the police statement, a call was made to report "an aggressive man who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
Reports on various news portals claim that Payne allegedly 'smashed his laptop' in the hotel lobby and had to be escorted back to his room. In the 911 audio, aired by a local Argentine television station, the hotel owner was heard saying, "We have a guest who is on drugs and is destroying the whole room, so we need someone to come."
In a report in The Mirror, the man in the audio said, "When he is conscious, he is destroying the entire room, and we need you to send someone."
Police later confirmed Payne's death, stating, "Liam James Payne, composer and guitarist, former member of the band One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel." The hotel manager described hearing a loud noise from the back of the building. Upon arrival, police found the singer’s body in the hotel’s interior patio, having apparently fallen from his balcony.
Emergency services pronounced Payne dead at the scene, with Buenos Aires' SAME emergency medical chief, Alberto Crescenti, stating, "There was no possibility of resuscitation," as the singer had suffered "very serious injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall."
Photographs obtained by TMZ showed Payne’s body on the deck at the hotel, with tables and chairs scattered nearby. Emergency responders removed his body and transported it to the morgue.
As word of his death spread, fans and onlookers gathered outside the hotel, some hugging and crying. Others burst into applause as a mark of respect.
Payne had previously been candid about his struggles with addiction. In June 2021, he admitted to grappling with alcohol and prescription drug abuse during One Direction’s touring years, revealing he had experienced severe suicidal thoughts. In July 2023, he announced he was six months sober after spending around 100 days in rehab, saying, "I was in bad shape up until that point," during a YouTube video update.
The tragic news comes amid recent reports involving his personal life. Earlier this week, allegations surfaced from his ex-fiancee, Maya Henry, claiming he had left her after asking her to get an abortion. Her legal team was reportedly preparing a cease-and-desist letter to prevent him from contacting her.
The circumstances surrounding Payne’s death are still under investigation.
