These are the son and girlfriend that One Direction singer Liam Payne leaves behind
The whole world is in shock since it was announced last night that former One Direction singer Liam Payne has passed away. His body was found at a hotel in Buenos Aires; he reportedly fell from the third-floor balcony. Liam was only 31 years old and leaves behind a 7-year-old son. Terrible.
This is what we know about his tragic death.
Is it really an accident?
Liam was in Buenos Aires to attend a concert of his former bandmate Niall Horan earlier this month. He then stayed in Argentina for a vacation with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. She reportedly left on October 14, and Liam checked in alone at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Earlier that evening, the police received a report from the hotel that a man was behaving aggressively and was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Witnesses later reported that Liam exhibited erratic behavior. He destroyed his laptop and had to be carried to his room. The hotel manager then allegedly alerted the police that he was breaking down the room. Once there, they found Liam dead. According to a spokesperson for the Argentine police, he may have jumped down. An investigation is still ongoing to determine exactly what happened.
Shocked reactions
Large groups of fans gathered outside the hotel to mourn together. Shocked reactions are also appearing on social media. Singer Charlie Puth responds: “I still can’t believe this news. Rest in peace.” Anne Twist, the mother of Liam’s former bandmate Harry Styles, posts a photo of a broken heart with the text “Just a boy…”. The members of One Direction, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson, express in a joint statement that they are completely devastated by Liam’s passing. For now, they are taking the time to process the loss of their brother, whom they loved dearly. They will always cherish the memories they shared together. On his personal page, Harry calls it an honor to have stood beside Liam. The years they shared will forever be his most cherished moments. Louis thanks Liam for the bond they had, both musically and beyond. He promises to always be there for his son Bear and to tell him how wonderful his father was. Zayn describes how he now talks to Liam and hopes he can hear him. He thanks him for all the support during the difficult times in his life. He ends his message with the words: love you bro. Niall also expresses how surreal it is that Liam is no longer here. He describes the fond memories they had together and the dreams they were able to share. He is grateful that he was able to see him two weeks ago, not knowing that it would be the last time.
Liam’s known exes and current girlfriend have not yet commented on the news. Understandably, as what do you say at such a tragic moment.
His family has jointly released a statement to the BBC: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we will remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul. We support each other as best as we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this terrible time.”
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Longer struggle
Liam first participated in the British X-factor in 2008. He was rejected then but tried again two years later. He then became part of the band One Direction. They grew to become one of the biggest boy bands ever. In 2016, they split up, after which Liam continued solo. In 2021, he revealed that he had been struggling with alcohol and drugs during his time in the group and also had suicidal thoughts. A year later, he admitted himself for mental health issues.
His son Bear
In 2016, Liam started a relationship with the ten years older Cheryl Cole, who was also a judge during the X-factor. The couple welcomed their son Bear Grey in 2017. A year later, the couple split up. Liam was together with Kate Cassidy in October 2022. In recent Instagram posts, he expressed how proud he was of his son and how much he resembled him.
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