Warning: This article discusses drug addiction, which may be distressing for some readers.
Liam Payne’s former fiancée has finally broken her silence following the musician’s untimely death last October.
The ex-One Direction star passed away on October 16, 2024, at just 31 years old after a fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In connection to Payne’s death, five individuals have been charged. The hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s acquaintance Roger Nores face manslaughter charges.
Additionally, hotel staff member Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz have been charged with drug supply offenses.
A UK inquest confirmed that Payne’s cause of death was ‘polytrauma,’ indicating multiple traumatic injuries.
The inquest also revealed that Payne was officially identified “with the assistance of the funeral directors in Buckinghamshire”.
Senior Coroner Crispin Butler stated during the hearing: “Whilst there are ongoing investigations in Argentina into the circumstances of Liam’s death, over which I have no legal jurisdiction, it is anticipated that procuring the relevant information to address particularly how Liam came by his death may take some time through the formal channel of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”
Payne’s ex-fiancée, Maya Henry, has since released a statement through Rolling Stone, marking her first public comments on the matter.
The couple announced their relationship in September 2019 and got engaged in 2020.
They initially split in June 2021 but reconciled later that year, only to separate permanently the following year. Payne was reportedly dating Kate Cassidy, 25, at the time of his death.
Henry, 24, told the publication: “This was someone I loved very much. Initially, it was the drug use and addictions that tore us apart. Anyone who has been with an addict understands how difficult that is.”
“While I loved him deeply, he did things that hurt me in ways I’ll never fully understand, and he continued to hurt me years after we broke up,” she added.
“I tried to be there for him. I loved him so much that I convinced myself I could fix things, that if I just held on a little longer, he would change.
“I put myself in situations that were unsafe and harmful, ignoring every red flag because I didn’t want to give up on him.”
Henry continued: “I knew there were parts of himself he was struggling with – parts of his identity he wasn’t ready to fully face, even within our relationship.”
She described how she ‘stood by him in his darkest moments’ and was left feeling ’empty’ when it ended.
Henry confessed: “I wasn’t just heartbroken; I felt defrauded, as so many women in my position would. But what I do know is this: It wasn’t about me or anything
“I did. It was about struggles beyond my control. And in the end, I had to choose myself. I had to walk away, no matter how much it hurt, because staying in his world meant losing myself.”
Another hotel guest, Doug Jones, shared his experience with Rolling Stone, claiming he overheard much of what occurred on that fateful October night.
While conducting business calls at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, Jones recounted: “I heard some really bizarre noises, like yelling, and it sounded like someone was partying.
“It sounded like people were coming and going nonstop. It was happening every few minutes,” he explained.
He added: “[The shouting] just sounded manic, almost insane. I heard the loudest one around five, and then I started hearing all the sirens.”
A toxicology report completed after Payne’s death found traces of ‘alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressant’ in his system.
If you are seeking confidential advice about drugs, American Addiction Centers can be reached at (313) 209-9137 24/7 or through their website.