Liam Payne death latest: Harry Styles says he’s ‘truly devastated’ in tribute as authorities prepare autopsy
Liam Payne, solo star and former One Direction member, has died aged 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires
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One Direction star Liam Payne has died suddenly aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Local authorities have said they will conduct an autopsy and investigate the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
Payne’s family said in a statement issued by his spokeswoman: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
In a joint statement signed “Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry”, Payne’s One Direction bandmates said: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing.
“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
Payne rose to fame while competing on season five of The X Factor in 2010, when he was placed in the band One Direction along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
They went on to become one of the world’s most successful boybands, selling 70 million records and performing in stadiums around the world.
Liam Payne drew the short straw in One Direction – now we’ll never know the real him
Zayn Malik admits he and Liam Payne ‘butted heads’ in emotional tribute to late 1D bandmate
Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole’s relationship: Timeline from X Factor meeting to coparenting son Bear
Liam Payne’s final posts show how One Direction star spent his day just hours before his death
Why Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy left Argentina just before his death
Liam Payne’s life after One Direction: Fame, fall outs and fatherhood
One Direction’s split seemed inevitable, but the break-up of one of the most successful boybands of all time still made headlines around the world and devastated millions of fans.
Formed on reality TV show The X Factor in 2010, the five-piece comprised late singer Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Despite placing third in the contest, the band shot to international fame upon the release of their debut single, the pop-rock anthem “What Makes You Beautiful”.
For the next six years, One Direction experienced a level of fame not seen since Beatlemania: screaming, hysterical fans; paparazzi; intrusive tabloid stories. After the band split in 2016 following a final farewell tour, each of the five members pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success.
Somewhat surprisingly, Payne – who had long-harboured ambitions of being a singer like his idols, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Chris Brown – admitted in 2017 that he had doubts about going solo. “I was just going to go into songwriting and carry on and do that,” he told Billboard. “But then I was like, ‘You’ve been trying to do this since you were 14 years old. You would be ridiculously stupid to turn down the option to have a deal.’ Coming out of the band, we had some pretty good opportunities around us. I had to do something.”
Liam Payne’s life after One Direction: Fame, fall outs and fatherhood
Singer was open about his experiences in the aftermath of the band’s split, as he pursued a solo career and had a son with former ‘X Factor’ judge, Cheryl Tweedy
One Direction’s former management pays tribute
“We are absolutely devastated by the tragic news of Liam Payne’s passing,” Modest Management said in a statement.
“Liam was a huge part of the historic success of One Direction and brought so much pleasure to millions of fans around the globe. Our thoughts go out to all his family, his son Bear and all friends.”
BREAKING: Liam Payne’s family issue statement following singer’s death
Liam Payne's family said in a statement issued by his spokeswoman: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
”We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.“
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