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Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, dies aged 31 after hotel fall

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died in Argentina, according to local officials.

Police tell the BBC and Associated Press in statements that they responded to an emergency call at the Casa Sur Hotel in Palermo, Buenos Aires about “an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.” Shortly after their arrival, the 31-year-old British singer was found dead in the courtyard.

ABC News reports that Alberto Crescenti, head of the state’s emergency medical system, told a local Argentine media outlet that Payne fell about 40 to 45 feet. He called the injuries “very serious” and “incompatible with life.” Emergency services arrived at 5:11 pm and Payne was confirmed dead.

Speaking to AP, Crescenti said authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy. Crescenti declined to answer questions about the incident, including whether Payne fell or jumped.

Payne was photographed supporting his former bandmate Niall Horan during his Oct. 2 show in Argentina. In recent days, videos have emerged showing Payne still in the country.

Payne shares one child, a 7-year-old son named Bear, with singer Cheryl Cole.

In 2010, Payne achieved superstardom in Britain The X factor when he joined the boy band One Direction. The band also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Horan. Their 2013 hit “Best Song Ever” peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Other popular hits included “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life” and “Drag Me Down.” They released five albums.

Payne first auditioned for the singing competition show in 2008, at the age of 14. He sang a cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon”. Payne advanced but was cut by judge Simon Cowell before the live shows. The singer returned two years later and his life changed.

“I was very young at the time and I wasn’t ready for it,” Payne told the panel before his 2010 audition. “Now I’m 16 and I’m back and ready to try again.”

The judges, including Cole, were impressed with his performance of Michael Bublé’s “Cry Me a River.” That audition ultimately earned him a fifth of One Direction. Although they didn’t win that season, they went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. One Direction disbanded in 2015, with each artist pursuing solo careers.

While on his own, Payne collaborated with many different singer-songwriters, including Quavo (“Strip That Down”), Zedd (“Get Low”) and Rita Ora (“For You” of the Fifty shades liberated soundtrack). He released his first solo album, LP1in 2019.

At the height of One Direction’s success, Payne said he struggled with anxiety and alcohol abuse. “It’s hard when you have the level of fame we had in the band,” he shared Men’s Health Australia.

In July 2023, Payne revealed that he was six months sober after spending 100 days in rehab.

“I just needed some time to myself because I basically became someone I didn’t really recognize anymore,” he told his fans in a YouTube video. Payne apologized for speaking ill of some of his bandmates in a 2022 interview that made headlines. Payne ultimately thanked them for “really continuing to support” him in his time of need.

“When I needed them most, they came to my rescue,” he said.

This is a breaking news story. Check back later for updates.