Former One Direction member Liam Payne has reportedly passed away at the age of 31.
According to Reuters, the singer was found deceased outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after allegedly falling from the third floor of the building.
Local newspapers La Nacion and Clarin conveyed the heartbreaking news on Wednesday, October 16, citing information from emergency services and officials present at the scene.
Emergency responders later confirmed to Reuters that Payne died after being discovered in the hotel’s interior patio area.
Liam Payne gained fame as a part of the British boy band One Direction.
The band, which included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, was formed in 2010 during the reality competition show The X Factor.
Liam Payne was born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, England, and initially rose to fame after auditioning for The X Factor’s fifth season in 2008.
On the show, he was grouped with Styles, Malik, Tomlinson, and Horan, and together they became a global sensation, producing hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Steal My Girl.”
The band announced a hiatus in 2016, following Malik’s departure in 2015. Payne later pursued a solo career and released his debut solo album, LP1, in 2019.
Fans are devastated and have been sharing tributes for Payne on social media platforms.
“I feel like most of us are so shocked over Liam Payne’s death because that man once was part of something our 13-year-old selves could never imagine living without. Like why am I actually speechless right now. It’s so weird,” a fan expressed on Twitter.
“Damn, this Liam Payne news got me speechless,” another user posted. “Looked up to [One Direction] so much during the wdw days. You really never know when it’s your time to go. Remind your friends/family that you love them today and every day.”
“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,” another shared.
“I feel so unsettled hearing this news — I think it’s because we grew up with him, he’s only our age,” another fan noted.
Liam Payne is survived by his son, Bear Grey Payne, who was born in 2017 with singer Cheryl Cole.