An investigation has been launched into the mysterious death of Liam Payne, who tragically passed away on Wednesday after falling from the third floor of a Buenos Aires hotel in Argentina. Payne, the 31-year-old former One Direction star, was on vacation with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy before the incident occurred.
Liam’s body was discovered in the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood, where forensic teams were seen working. Medics confirmed that Payne had died at the scene, with reports indicating he suffered a fatal skull fracture from a 13-14 meter fall.
The incident took place just two days after Cassidy, 25, abruptly flew back to Miami, citing homesickness. Payne’s behavior had reportedly become erratic in the hours leading up to his fall. Hotel staff had called 911 after witnessing the singer acting aggressively, smashing his laptop in the lobby, and later being escorted back to his room.
In a distressing 911 call, the hotel manager warned that the situation was dangerous, stating, “We have a guest who’s out of control and damaging his room. There’s a balcony, and we’re worried he might do something.” Moments later, Payne fell from the balcony, and it remains unclear whether it was an accident, suicide, or foul play.
The autopsy is ongoing, and the investigation is in progress. Payne’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry, who had recently dismissed his suicide warnings as attention-seeking, was reportedly in shock upon learning of his death.
Meanwhile, Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had spoken on TikTok about her discomfort during their extended trip to South America, explaining that she left early due to anxiety. She expressed that the couple initially planned to stay for five days, but the trip stretched to two weeks.
While Payne’s former bandmates from One Direction have yet to comment, Harry Styles’ mother, Anne Twist, posted a brief tribute on Instagram with the caption, “Just a boy,” alongside a broken heart emoji.
Payne, who had pursued a solo career after One Direction’s disbandment in 2016, had been struggling with delays in releasing his second album. Reports suggest that personal challenges and the departure of his former manager, Roger, had disrupted his progress. Additionally, a planned documentary about Payne’s career was also reportedly canceled.
