Renowned British pop singer and former One Direction member Liam Payne passed away on 17th October 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As per the reports, Liam was staying in the hotel CasaSur in Palermo, Buenos Aires with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Two days before his death she returned to the United States. The cause of his death is said to be falling from the third story of a hotel in Buenos Aires. The authorities have not confirmed the exact cause of his fall, leaving the matter open to speculation. Payne rose to fame during his time with One Direction, a band formed on The X Factor when Liam was just 14 years old. That’s when he met his other bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, little did Payne know what happened next would create history. Liam, the oldest band member, gained even more recognition after the release of their debut single 'What Makes You Beautiful'. The Band gained instant popularity in the US and other parts of the world and went on to win multiple awards. The band created 5 record-breaking albums in total, the last one without Zayn Malik after he departed from the band in 2015. The band soon went on “Indefinite Hiatus” and all the members pursued solo careers. Liam’s solo career was full of highs and lows. His debut entry on the Billboard pop Airplay chart, “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo, reigned for two weeks in October 2017. Liam was not as successful as his former bandmates and often struggled working solo. Liam Payne has been at the centre of several controversies, from his One Direction days to his solo career. He was widely criticized for making comments on Zayn’s upbringing in a podcast. In addition, his ex-girlfriend Maya Henry accused him of being abusive in their relationship, including forcing her to undergo an abortion. In a viral TikTok video, it was seen Liam making misogynistic remarks towards her. He also shares a son, Bear, with his former partner, Cheryl Cole, whom he loved very dearly. Furthermore, Liam battled with substance abuse, which he opened up about in a 2021 podcast. Many have linked his death to substance use but there has been no concrete evidence. Liam’s former band members shared a joint statement which concluded with “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam.” Another statement issued by his family said, “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul, We support each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.” Fans worldwide mourned, sharing lyrics from 'Spaces’, ‘Who’s gonna be the first to say goodbye?’ echoing their heartbreak over the loss. Many fans were heartbroken, saying there would never be a full One Direction reunion, or if there were, it wouldn’t be the same without their beloved Liam. Liam Payne leaves behind his Son, Bear, and a huge fanbase.
The first image shows Liam on the X Factor at 14. The second image shows Liam performing as a renowned artist for 1d.
23 Oct 2024
Janak Joshi
