Liam Payne, a member of the British boy band One Direction, who once enjoyed worldwide popularity, has died after falling from a hotel in Argentina. According to reports from CNN and TMZ on the 16th (local time), Payne fell from the balcony of the third floor at a hotel in Buenos Aires on this day. However, the exact circumstances of the incident have not been determined yet. TMZ reported, “It is unclear whether it was an accident.”
Payne first gained recognition in 2010 at the age of 16 when he appeared on Season 7 of the audition program ‘The X Factor.’ He formed One Direction with fellow contestants Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik. The group officially debuted in September 2011 with the release of the single album ‘What Makes You Beautiful.’
One Direction quickly rose to immense popularity, demonstrating their global appeal by performing at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics the following year. Malik left the group in March 2015, and One Direction announced a hiatus later that year. Payne continued his career by releasing a solo album in 2019.
Payne is survived by his son.