Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has tragically died after falling from the balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Payne was staying at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel when the incident occurred on Wednesday evening. 

According to TMZ,  witnesses at the hotel said the singer fell from his third-floor room shortly after 5 PM. 

Sources revealed that Payne had been acting erratically in the hotel lobby, reportedly smashing his laptop before being escorted back to his room. 

The circumstances leading up to his fall remain unclear, though witnesses have confirmed the disturbing sequence of events before the fatal incident. 

He had been in Argentina for a brief vacation and was preparing for upcoming projects, marking a hopeful return after a series of personal struggles in recent years.

Payne rose to international stardom as a member of the wildly popular boy band One Direction, which formed on the British TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2010.

Alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, Payne quickly became a household name, contributing to some of the band’s biggest hits such as ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, ‘Story of My Life’, and ‘Drag Me Down’. 

The group’s success brought them legions of fans around the world, as well as numerous accolades, including Brit Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and multiple platinum records.

After One Direction announced their hiatus in 2016, Payne launched a solo career, exploring more mature sounds and themes. 

His debut single, ‘Strip That Down’, featuring Quavo, became a chart-topping success, marking his first major post-1D hit. 

Payne released his first solo album ‘LP1’ in 2019, blending pop, R&B, and electronic influences. 

However, while he found some success as a solo, Payne’s transition to life after One Direction was marked by personal challenges.

Payne has been open about his struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and the pressures of fame. 

In several interviews, he discussed the toll that life in the spotlight had taken on him, admitting to periods of depression and heavy drinking.

In 2023, he announced a short break from music due to a kidney infection, but just a few weeks later, reports of erratic behaviour and health issues surfaced again.