One Direction singer Liam Payne dead after falling from a hotel balcony

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires after the 31-year-old fell from his third-floor room balcony, Argentine police said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the capital police said they were called to the hotel in the capital's leafy Palermo neighborhood where they were notified of an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol."

The hotel manager said he heard a loud noise at the back of the hotel, and when police arrived, they found that a man had fallen over the balcony in his room, the statement said.

Emergency workers confirmed the death of the British singer, who was reportedly found in the hotel's interior patio.

FILE PHOTO: Members of the band One Direction (L-R), Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, arrive for Fox's "The X Factor" Season Finale - Night 2 at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 20, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Redmond/File Photo

"I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me," American singer Charlie Puth said on Instagram. "He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone."

U.S. music channel MTV, streaming service Spotify SPOT.N, and the BRITs British Music Awards expressed their grief on social media, sending their condolences to his family and loved ones.

Payne had a son named Bear with British TV personality and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl in 2017.

Neither Payne's record label, Republic Records, nor its owner Universal Music Group UMG.AS could immediately be reached for comment.

Police had received a call from a worker at the hotel requesting urgent help with an intoxicated guest, according to audio related to the case obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry.

"When he is conscious, he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone," the worker said, adding that the guest's life was at risk because their room had a balcony.

Emergency responders removed the body from the hotel to take it to the morgue. At the same time, fans and onlookers who had gathered through the early evening, some hugging each other and crying, burst into applause.

A social media selfie video shows former One Direction singer Liam Payne speaking in Sarmiento, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, presumed to be the last videos of Liam Payne alive posted on his Snapchat verified account amidst death announcement, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video, released on October 16, 2024. Liam Payne via Snapchat/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Crowd gathers to mourn boy band star

The "For You" singer 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 started 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.

One Direction was ranked the third-best boy band ever by Entertainment Weekly in 2024. The group won dozens of major awards and sold some 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Payne's One Direction and solo career helped garner him a net worth of some $70 million.

Reuters reporters at the scene saw crowds gathering outside the hotel, where dozens of police and emergency services teams had cordoned off an area as night fell on the city.

Fans light candles outside the hotel where Liam Payne, former One Direction member, was found dead, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

One 25-year-old fan, Yamila Zacarias, said her family had made a lot of effort so she could see One Direction when they came to Argentina, but she had decided not to go as her parents didn't have much money then.

"He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life at this time when you're trying to be a part of something, and being a One Direction fan became that something for me," she said. "This was the only time I could applaud him."

Violeta Antier, another fan, told Reuters she had come straight away after he sister told her Payne had died.

"I saw him two weeks ago at a Niall (Horan) concert, another One Direction member. He was there, I saw him," she said.

"He was ok."

FILE PHOTO: British Singer Liam Payne performs at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards at Wembley Arena in London, Britain, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo

On October 2, Payne attended the Buenos Aires concert of his former bandmate Niall Horan on the Argentine leg of a Latin American tour that spanned Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The two had posted videos together and with fans.

Payne, who co-wrote many One Direction songs including "Night Changes" and "Story of My Life", had previously spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and using alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.

Last year he published a video to fans on his YouTube channel in which he spoke about his family, making new art, and performing again after having given up alcohol. He thanked supporters for sticking with him through difficult times.

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.

(Reporting by Sarah Morland, Brendan O'Boyle, and Anthony Esposito in Mexico City, Eliana Raszewski, Agustin Marcarian, and Adam Jourdan in Buenos Aires, and William James in London; Editing by David Alire Garcia, Chris Reese, and Sonali Paul)