Liam Payne – former One Direction member – dies at 31

Topline

Liam Payne, an English singer who rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, died on Wednesday after falling from his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Important facts

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How did fans and musicians react to the news of Payne's death?

Other members of One Direction have not publicly commented on Payne's death. Harry Style's mother, Anne Twist, appeared to mourn the singer's death by posting a heartbroken picture on her Instagram with the caption, “Just a boy.” Waliyha Malik, sister of former band member Zayn, also shared several pictures of the singer with her brother on her Instagram story with the caption “heartbroken.” One Direction fans mourned Payne's death on social media, while a large group gathered outside the Casa Sur Hotel to hold a vigil for the musician and sing One Direction songs.

Important background

Payne, along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, was a member of One Direction – a band put together by the judges of the British show “The X Factor” in 2010. They didn't win the season, but the group exploded after the show, doing stadium tours and a string of pop hits, including “Story of My Life” and “Best Song Ever.” The band announced that they would be taking a temporary hiatus in 2015, despite Malik having already left the band earlier in the year. Payne then pursued a solo career, releasing his first solo album, LP1, in 2019, before continuing to make pop, hip hop, Latin and electronic music. Payne spoke about his battle with addiction in recent years, saying that he suffered from suicidal thoughts as a member of One Direction. In a 2023 YouTube video, Payne said he had spent 100 days in rehabilitation and that he had a “better handle on life and everything that has eluded me” now that he was sober. Payne has had four chart-topping songs and one Billboard Top 10 hit, 2017's “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo, in his solo career. He released his latest song “Teardrops” earlier this year. Payne also had a child with Cheryl Cole in 2017.

Further reading

CNNFormer One Direction member Liam Payne dies at 31 | CNNABC NewsEx-One Direction star Liam Payne dies after falling from hotel in Argentina: police