Liam Payne, the British singer celebrated for his time with the iconic band One Direction, tragically passed away on October 16. The 31-year-old reportedly fell from the third-floor balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
New details about the singer's final moments are emerging, suggesting he may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Additionally, a chilling 911 call from the hotel manager has surfaced, providing insight into the events leading up to this heartbreaking incident.
According to reports from TMZ and other media sources, Liam may have been intoxicated during the hours leading up to his death. Allegedly, he ‘smashed his laptop’ in the hotel lobby and had to be escorted back to his room. Reuters reported that police were alerted about an ‘aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs and alcohol.’
An audio recording of the 911 call from the hotel manager to the police was aired by an Argentine news channel. In the call, the manager stated, ‘We have a guest who is on drugs and is destroying the entire room, so we need assistance.’ Reuters confirmed that the call was made in distress, with the worker adding, ‘When he is conscious, he is destroying the whole room, and we need someone to come. His life is at risk because his room has a balcony.’
The hotel manager reportedly heard a loud commotion coming from the back of the hotel. When the police arrived, they found a man who had fallen from the balcony of his room, as confirmed by a statement from the Buenos Aires police. The deceased was later identified as the British singer. A crowd of fans gathered outside the hotel, some embracing and crying.
Liam Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he had with British TV personality and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.
Liam had a history of health challenges since birth, which he detailed in the 2011 book Dare to Dream - Life as One Direction. He shared that he was born ‘effectively dead,’ and doctors struggled to diagnose his condition at first.
Although he eventually appeared healthy, he faced underlying issues.
‘I was born three weeks early and was constantly ill. From ages zero to four, I was frequently in the hospital for tests, but they couldn't determine what was wrong. They eventually found that one of my kidneys wasn’t functioning properly and had scar tissue. I had to endure 32 injections in my arm each morning and evening to try to improve my health,’ Liam recounted in the book, as reported by Digital Spy.
‘I've still got both kidneys, but one doesn't work, so I need to be cautious about my fluid intake, even water, and I have to prioritize my health,’ Liam shared in the book.
In various interviews, Liam Payne candidly discussed his battles with mental health and substance abuse, revealing that alcohol became his coping mechanism amid the pressures of fame. In a 2019 reflection, he remarked on the difficulties of enduring constant public scrutiny, comparing performances to “putting the Disney costume on,” signifying the emotional façade he maintained to hide his struggles.
During a podcast, he admitted to experiencing suicidal thoughts at the peak of his One Direction success, emphasizing his skill in concealing his pain. "I’m very good at hiding it," he stated, noting that there were aspects of his struggles he had never shared.
A pivotal moment in Payne’s life came when he embraced sobriety. In July 2023, he celebrated six months of being sober, revealing that he spent nearly 100 days in a Louisiana rehab facility. This transformative experience granted him a renewed perspective on life. He expressed that he finally felt in control, acknowledging the need to reconnect with himself after years of turmoil.
Interestingly, the inspiration to quit drinking struck him unexpectedly at a Hans Zimmer concert in early 2023. While sipping a drink, he realized, “This isn’t really serving me at all,” prompting him to commit to sobriety for months to come.
Liam Payne was one of the five members of One Direction, formed when they auditioned for the British singing competition The X Factor in 2010. By the time they disbanded in 2016, they had scored six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts and built a fiercely loyal fan base known as ‘Directioners,’ many of whom were teenage girls.
Also Watch | One Direction's Liam Payne dies after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires