When stars came together to honor Liam Payne at his funeral, one celebrity’s absence was particularly noticeable.
Payne, who gained global fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, tragically passed away last month at the age of 31.
After the star’s passing, his devastated family shared a statement through a spokesperson.
It read: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.”
Payne’s former bandmates released a joint statement, expressing their grief over the loss of their “brother.”
The singer tragically passed away after falling from a hotel balcony on Wednesday, October 16, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had been in the country to attend a concert by his former bandmate, Niall Horan.
Alberto Crescenti, the head of Argentina’s state emergency medical system, confirmed that the 31-year-old fell approximately 40 meters into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel.
An autopsy revealed that Payne sustained multiple traumas and internal bleeding, with injuries described as “incompatible with life.”
Toxicology results found traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in Payne’s system.
Medical experts suggested that he may have been semi-conscious or fully unconscious at the time of the fall.
Argentinian authorities have charged three individuals in connection with Payne’s death.
One of his companions faces charges of “abandonment of a person followed by death,” while a hotel employee and another individual have been charged with supplying drugs. Their identities have not been revealed.
Nine raids have reportedly been carried out in Buenos Aires as part of the investigation, with authorities reviewing over 800 hours of surveillance footage from the hotel and surrounding areas.
Testimonies from hotel employees, family, friends, and medical staff have also been collected.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are still ongoing.
Payne’s funeral was held on November 20 in Wolverhampton, U.K., exactly one month after his tragic passing.
His former bandmates, along with other celebrities, attended the private funeral.
However, one celebrity’s absence was particularly noticeable.
According to The Sun, Payne’s manager, Roger Nores, was reportedly “not welcome” at the private ceremony due to strained relations and his involvement in an ongoing investigation into the singer’s death.
A source close to the star’s family revealed that they wanted the service to proceed without disruptions, stating: “Liam’s family want his funeral to go off without a hitch, and right now opinions are strained when it comes to Nores.”
While Nores has claimed to have had a close friendship with Payne, others in the singer’s circle were reportedly unaware that they had reconnected before his trip to Argentina.
Payne’s manager has denied the allegations of abandonment, stating: “I never abandoned Liam… I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left.”
He added: “I wasn’t Liam’s manager. He was just my very dear friend.”
However, emails seen by The Sun suggest that Nores was actively managing Payne’s career until earlier this year. He reportedly resigned after a disagreement over a deal with the Los Angeles talent agency CAA.
In the days leading up to Payne’s death, it is reported that he and his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, visited Nores’ home.
