Fans were devastated after realizing that Liam Payne appeared to have posted on social media just an hour before his untimely death.
The 31-year-old singer was discovered deceased following a fall from the third floor of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as reported by local authorities.
The Argentine Director of Emergency Medical Services, Alberto Crescenti, confirmed that Payne’s body was found in the hotel’s interior patio.
An hour prior to his death, Payne shared a post on Snapchat outlining his plans for the day in Argentina.
“Today, we ride. We’re going to ride some horses,” Payne mentioned in the video post. “Think I’m going to play polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.
“It’s so hard to do, number one, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around… or mallet, I think it’s called if you’re in the know. It hurts a lot, it’s very tough to do.”
Fans have suggested that these posts may have been scheduled, as Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, who could be heard in the videos, shared a TikTok about flying back to Florida from Argentina two days prior.
The news of Payne’s passing has left many in shock.
The singer gained fame as a member of the British boyband One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
The band was formed on the reality show The X Factor in 2010 and went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands in history.
After announcing a hiatus in 2016, Payne embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album LP1 in 2019.
Fans have since taken to social media to express their condolences, with one user tweeting, “This doesn’t even feel real, like he was part of a group that raised an entire generation. Like he just posted a story on Snapchat an hour ago is insane. RIP Liam.”
“Liam Payne’s death is sad very very sad. He played a role in all our childhoods. Just doesn’t seem real… I’m speechless. Rest Easy,” commented another.
“I feel so unsettled hearing this news — I think it’s because we grew up with him, he’s only our age,” posted another.
Payne leaves behind his son, Bear Grey Payne, whom he had with singer Cheryl Cole in 2017.