Liam Payne. A name, formerly most recognized by teenage girls in the early-to-mid 2010s. Now a name most recognized by his tragic fall from grace.
On Oct. 16, 2024 the whole world went silent mourning the loss of beloved former One Direction member. He was enjoying a vacation in Argentina after visiting former band mate Niall Horan’s concert. What was supposed to be a short, five day trip quickly turned into two weeks after Payne’s visa was unable to be stamped. He was supposed to get his passport stamped a few days after his passing, but was unable due to his substance abuse.
Payne was staying at CasaSur Palermo when he fell from his third story hotel room. His autopsy and a chilling phone call to the police from the hotel manager suggest his death could be a suicide. His autopsy report came back showing signs of a common drug in Latin America called “Pink Cocaine.” This is a “drug cocktail” containing MDMA, Cocaine, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, Benzodiazepine, and Crack. In the end this mixture creates a sort of pink color giving it its name, “Pink Cocaine.” In pictures released of his hotel room it shows a smashed laptop and t.v as well as a ton of drug paraphernalia littering almost every surface.
The manager from CasaSur Palermo called 911 stating, “Well, we have a guest who is intoxicated by drugs and alcohol. And well, he’s… When he’s conscious, he breaks, he’s breaking his whole room. And, well, we need you to send someone, please.” Then later in the call he said, “…And we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is at risk. He is in a room with a balcony. And, well, we are a little afraid that he will do something that will put his life at risk.”
The police showed up seven minutes later and declared Payne dead at the scene. The cause of death was due to internal and external bleeding from blunt force trauma, according to the coroner’s report.
Since Payne’s passing his former bandmates have expressed their sorrows and grief for his family and girlfriend in many different social media posts. Former bandmate Zayn Malik has since postponed his tour apologizing and promising that the fans’ old tickets will be transferred to his new tour dates. Payne’s dad, Geoff Payne, and One Direction’s former security guard, Paul Higgins, visited the site of his passing and his hotel room last week, and fans raised their backpacks to shield the two from the continuous flashes of the paparazzi’s cameras and to protect their privacy.
Fans are heartbroken and still in shock after the abrupt turn of events.
Long time One Direction Fan Tilly Bruno, a sophomore at Cleveland, commented on the tragedy saying, “I was at outdoor school that whole week. I didn’t even know what day it was but during our electronic ‘work’ time, all of the student leaders were gathered roughly around one small table. I hear this person, I can’t even remember who it was, but they yell out ‘LIAM PAYNE DEAD AT 31!’ And if you don’t know the viral TikTok trend, that is exactly what people would say by inserting their parent or friend’s favorite celebrity and their age. So I started laughing a little, thinking they were trying to prank a friend or adult.”
Another fan of One Direction, sophomore Wynnie Posdel said, “I was incredibly surprised. I think part of me couldn’t comprehend that a teenage superstar, a member of One Direction, could experience such a cruel fate.”
One Direction was so influential in so many teenagers’ lives and even if you weren’t a fan you had most definitely heard their music. They were everywhere from 2013-2015 and they had such a lasting impact.
Payne first gained a ton of fame after participating in the famous British singing competition X Factor. He was placed into a band along with four other teenage boys: Harry Styles, Niall Horen, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. They quickly took the world by storm becoming one of the most popular boy bands of the 2000s. Unfortunately most good things can’t last and the band parted ways in 2016. Fans were left hoping for a reunion in 2020 but were left disappointed when there wasn’t one.
Unfortunately for the fans now, the only chance we have at a reunion is at Payne’s funeral.
