It was through the British program “X-Factor” that Liam Paynemanaged by the record label giant Simon Cowellbecame part of the boy band One Direction along with the other participants Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Harry Styles.
And it didn’t take long before success was a fact. The band, which sold over 70 million records, soon became one of the world’s most popular and rewritten pop groups and reaped great success with hit songs such as “What makes you beautiful” and “Story of my life”.
Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles. Photo: Charles Sykes/AP/TTOne Direction was one of the world’s most popular pop groups. Photo: Matt Sayles/AP/TT
But in 2016, the group members paused their collaboration and since then One Direction has not played together. Instead, the members have had solo careers on their own, and so has Payne, who in 2019 released the debut album “LP1”.
As recently as March this year, Liam Payne released the single “Teardrops”.
Liam Payne. Photo: Ian West/AP/TTLiam Payne talked about his addiction
Alongside the successful career, however, Liam Payne struggled with an addiction. In July 2023, he told in a Youtube video that he spent three months in a rehabilitation clinic.
The following month, he announced that his planned tour would be canceled due to health issues.
“I have been ill recently and was hospitalized with a serious kidney infection. We had just started rehearsing when I was advised not to hit the road while I recover. We need to reschedule the tour and I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you and sorry,” he wrote in a post on Instagram at the time, according to Gaff.
In March of this year, he released the single “Teardrops”, but there was never a tour.
Liam Payne canceled his tour for health reasons last year. Photo: Jonathan Brady/AP/TTLiam Payne dies after falling from third floor
At 5 p.m. local time, police were called to a hotel in the Palermo district of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires about “an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”
Once there, the police found a man dead in the hotel’s courtyard. The man was later confirmed to be Liam Payne.
“Liam James Payne, songwriter and guitarist, former member of One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor in Palermo,” Argentine police said in a statement, according to AFP.
Payne turned 31 years old.
READ MORE: One Direction star Liam Payne dead
Liam Payne was pronounced dead at the scene. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko/AP/TTFans have gathered outside the hotel in Buenos Aires. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko/AP/TTOne Direction fans light candles outside the hotel where Liam Payne was found dead on October 16, 2024. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko/AP/TT
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Liam Payne had a child with Cheryl Cole
Liam Payne, who at the time of his death was in a relationship with the influencer Kate Cassidyleaving behind one child: the son Bearwhich he received together with the artist and the television profile Cheryl Cole.
The son was born in 2017 and in the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, Payne has previously talked about how he would react if Bear, like his parents, wanted to work in the entertainment industry.
– I would never stop him, but I would make him aware of the risks. My parents did not experience what I experienced. I would like him to do something that he enjoys every day, he said then, according to Hello Magazine.
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Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne in 2016. Photo: Francois Mori/AP/TTLiam Payne and girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Photo: Vianney Le Caer/AP/TT
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In the YouTube video, published last summer, in which Payne talked about spending time at a rehabilitation clinic, he also thanked ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole and the son.
– I want to thank my son and his mother for giving me the freedom to go and try to feel better, he said then and continued:
– There is no point in trying to be a father when you have nothing to teach the child and I think, until now, I haven’t had much to say to him, other than that I care and love him deeply.
Liam Payne on son Bear: “A mini me”
Since their son Bear was born in 2017, the parents have chosen to keep him out of the limelight. But in August this year, in connection with the star’s 31st birthday, he shared an update about his son.
– He is getting so big now. He’s a big guy and looks like a mini-me. Like we need more of me in the world, he said in a video on Instagram at the time, according to Daily Mail.
In March of this year, he also shared a photo of his son, standing in front of a billboard on Payne, with the caption: “I want to be on a billboard one day dad.”
Neither Liam Payne’s family nor ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole have commented on Payne’s passing yet.
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