Liam Payne, 31, a member of the renowned British band One Direction, died Wednesday after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo, Argentina, according to local authorities. Emergency services, Sistema de Atencion Medica de Emergencia, confirmed his death following a 911 call reporting an aggressive individual, though there was no confirmation of drugs or alcohol involved.

Born in Wolverhampton, England, Payne gained global fame with One Direction, known for hits like What Makes You Beautiful and Story of My Life. The band, which also included Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, went on hiatus in 2016 after a record-breaking career. Their Where We Are Tour grossed over $282 million in 2014, as reported by Pollstar in its year-end review.

Liam Payne (right) with ex-wife, Cheryl Cole, who he shares a child with.

After One Direction’s hiatus, Payne launched a solo career, signing with Republic Records. He faced personal struggles, including a stint in rehab following critical remarks about his bandmates on Logan Paul’s podcast. By July 2023, Payne had shared on YouTube that he had been sober for six months and was focused on being a better father to his son, Bear, whom he shares with Cheryl Cole.

Tributes have poured in following his death, including messages from the Brit Awards on X, Charlie Puth on Instagram, and Jedward on X.