Liam Payne, known for being a part of British boy band One Direction, tragically passed away outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as confirmed by local authorities on Wednesday. He was only 31 years old.

The singer was discovered deceased after reportedly falling from the hotel’s third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur hotel. According to police, they were summoned to the scene due to reports of an “aggressive individual who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

Authorities stated that the fall caused “extremely serious injuries,” and he was pronounced dead at the location, according to reports from the Associated Press. Alberto Crescenti, who leads Buenos Aires’ emergency medical services, confirmed the news to local media outlets like Todo Noticias and La Nacion.

YSL News has reached out to Payne’s representatives and the Casa Sur hotel, as well as the Buenos Aires city government, for further statements.

He leaves behind his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with fellow British singer Cheryl Cole.

Liam Payne’s Journey to Fame with One Direction

Payne gained worldwide recognition as a member of the now-disbanded pop group One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

Payne auditioned for the U.K. reality show “The X-Factor” twice before catapulting to fame. He initially tried out in 2008 and again in 2010, but faced elimination both times. However, he was rescued from being cut in 2010 when Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, and Louis Walsh grouped him with other solo artists, including Styles, Horan, Tomlinson, and Malik.

After their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” became a global sensation, the group launched their first album, “Up All Night.” They went on to release four more albums, fill arenas across the globe during four world tours, and achieve numerous Top 10 hits like “Story of My Life,” which Payne co-wrote, “Best Song Ever,” and “Drag Me Down.”

In 2016, the band entered an indefinite hiatus after the release of their fifth album, “Made in the A.M.” All members, including Malik, who departed the group in March 2015, pursued solo projects thereafter.

“It’s definitely sad for us. But we are going to keep doing it. So it’s not goodbye; it’s more like, ‘See you later,'” Payne expressed to YSL News regarding their break in 2015. “It’s like how Tigger used to say: ‘Ta-ta for now.’”

Liam Payne’s Solo Music Career: ‘I Was Just Discovering Myself’

After the band’s hiatus, Payne stepped out as a solo artist, drawing inspiration from R&B, electronic, and dance genres. He released various hit songs, including his debut solo album “LP1” in December 2019. His collaboration with Quavo, “Strip That Down,” reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also enjoyed success with the duet “For You” featuring Rita Ora, from the “Fifty Shades Freed” soundtrack, and the song “Get Low” with Zedd.

Before launching his long-anticipated solo album, Payne shared his excitement with YSL News about finally releasing it. He remarked on the lengthy process of finishing the album, noting it was not due to difficulty, but rather their success with singles meant that he didn’t need to rush the album’s creation.

“It took a while to get it done—not because it was hard, but we were having so much success with the singles that I didn’t focus on the album initially,” Payne explained. “I was just in the midst of finding myself and my sound. In the band, we used to produce albums quickly: writing for two weeks and then recording for a month. So I wanted to savor this experience a bit more.”

His latest single, “Teardrops,” explores themes of feeling “broken” following heartbreak.

In August, Liam Payne was named as one of the judges for a new music competition series titled “Making the Band” on Netflix. The filming was anticipated to occur over the summer alongside Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and AJ McLean. Recently, fans at Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires shared videos of Payne enjoying himself while dancing in a box suite at the Movistar Arena.

Liam Payne candidly discusses his battles with addiction: ‘I had to take a step back’

In the past few years, Payne has been open about his battle with addiction and mental health challenges he faced during One Direction’s height of fame.

Payne revealed to YSL News that the turning point on his path to sobriety came simply from growing up. “Fortunately, during that time, I had amazing people around me who helped me recognize times in my life where I could improve. Having children has changed my perspective on everything I do immensely. I still consider myself quite young—at least I’d like to think so—so I have much more to learn. I’m in the process of discovering who I am.”

He mentioned that therapy played a significant role in helping him develop a healthier relationship with alcohol.

“A therapist named Chip Somers, who also assisted Russell Brand with his sobriety, helped me out. I even attended a meeting with Russell where people share their stories and discuss various situations,” Payne told YSL News. “It’s comforting to connect with people who are experiencing the same difficulties you are.”

During a July 2023 video announcing his return to YouTube, Payne admitted that he “had transformed into someone I no longer recognized.”

“I needed to step away to truly start healing,” he explained. “It reached a point where I was just scrambling to remain relevant.”

Payne expressed, “The key part was going back to the essence of it all to understand why I love doing this, why I enjoy making music for you all. Who am I? What message do I truly want to convey? I feel very fortunate to be in this position, and I genuinely want to take advantage of it.”

He revealed that he spent nearly 100 days in a “wonderful place” in Louisiana to “help clear my mind.” At that time, he also mentioned that he had been sober for close to six months.

He described feeling “a bit anxious” about going back on tour because “I haven’t tested performing in this new frame of mind, and the thought of not having anything to rely on feels daunting.” In August 2023, he had to cancel six performances in Mexico and South America after being hospitalized due to a kidney infection.

In a 2021 interview on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, Payne shared that he “didn’t have a good opinion of myself” during his early days with the boy band, describing that time as filled with “pills and alcohol” and “moments of suicidal thoughts.”

“On the day the band broke up, I thought, ‘Thank God,'” he admitted. “I understand that many may be upset by this, but I knew I had to stop, or it would have cost me my life.”

“In the band the best approach to manage us, given our immense popularity, was to keep us confined to our rooms. What was available in those rooms? A mini-bar,” he recalled during the podcast. “At one point, I thought I might as well enjoy a ‘party-for-one,’ which continued for many years of my life.”

“There were times when it was destructive and challenging. Don’t get me wrong; we had incredible experiences, but at that time, you don’t realize you have options.”

Fans gather to honor One Direction star

Recently, Reuters reporters in Argentina noticed crowds assembling outside a hotel, with numerous police and emergency service teams securing an area as night fell over the city.

Yamila Zacarias, a 25-year-old fan, mentioned that her family made significant efforts to enable her to see One Direction when they visited Argentina, but she opted not to attend as her family was struggling financially at that time.

“He was very important to me because the band came into my life during a time when I was seeking to belong, and being a fan of One Direction became that sense of belonging for me,” she stated. “This was my chance to celebrate him.”

Another fan, Violeta Antier, told Reuters she rushed over after hearing from her sister about Payne’s passing.

“I saw him just two weeks ago at a concert by Niall (Horan), another member of One Direction. He was there, and I saw him,” she shared.

“He seemed fine.”

Payne had made an appearance at Horan’s concert on October 2 in Buenos Aires, part of their Latin American tour that included stops in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The two had shared videos together, capturing moments with fans.

This article was updated with new information.

If you or someone you know is facing issues with substance use, you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This service is free, confidential, and available in both English and Spanish.