The former One Direction member sadly passed away on Wednesday, October 16.
Initial reports from Buenos Aires indicated that the singer fell from a hotel balcony around 5 PM, according to TMZ.
As more details about the tragic events continue to surface, many are left heartbroken. Fans are now expressing their belief that greater efforts should be made to support young stars in the spotlight.
Last week, Payne fell about 40 meters from a hotel balcony, sustaining injuries that were deemed ‘incompatible with life.’ Police were reportedly summoned to the hotel earlier that day due to reports of an ‘aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.’
Payne had been staying at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina, where he was visiting to attend a concert by former bandmate Niall Horan, accompanied by his girlfriend, Texas model Kate Cassidy.
Cassidy departed from Argentina two days before Payne’s death, on October 14.
Since the star’s passing, additional heartbreaking news has come to light, including the preliminary autopsy results that revealed his cause of death.
The reports indicate that Payne’s death was caused by multiple traumas along with significant internal and external bleeding.
Payne’s family issued a statement through his spokeswoman, expressing, “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.” They also requested privacy during this challenging time.
Cheryl Cole, the mother of Payne’s son, Bear, also released a statement, emphasizing that she wants people to remember him not just as a pop star, but as a human being. She wrote that one day, when their now 7-year-old son is older, he may have “access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation.”
This follows the widespread outcry after news outlet TMZ published images of Payne’s lifeless body in their initial coverage of his death. While the final toxicology results are not expected to be released for several weeks, an Argentine official stated that the initial toxicology report indicated that Payne had cocaine in his system at the time of his death.
However, the official emphasized that these initial results do not provide an accurate measure of how much cocaine was present in his blood at the time of death, as reported by The Associated Press.
Payne gained worldwide fame after appearing on The X Factor at just 14 years old.
On the show, he became a member of the boy band One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
The group quickly became popular with viewers, gaining a devoted fanbase almost overnight.
Payne had previously opened up about the struggles he faced during his time in the group during a 2021 episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast with Stephen Bartlett.
The pop star recalled, “When we were in the band, the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just to lock us in our rooms. And of course, what’s in the room? A mini bar. So at a certain point, I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to have a party for one,’ and that just seemed to carry on for many years in my life.”
The singer also revealed that the level of fame he attained left him overwhelmed with anxiety, making him nervous to go outside, as reported by Esquire Middle East.
Since Payne’s death, there has been a call for increased support for young individuals in the entertainment industry, especially as teenagers are exposed to such elevated levels of fame.
A recent petition has been launched to advocate for legislation aimed at “safeguarding artists’ mental health in the entertainment industry.” Established on October 18, the petition has already garnered more than 41,000 signatures.
Its description states: “While the entertainment industry is celebrated for its glamour and stardom, it is also notorious for the immense pressure it places on artists’ mental health. This pressure leads to a worrying prevalence of issues like stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and even suicide.”
“The recent tragic news of Liam Payne’s death, along with others, highlights the urgent need for the entertainment industry to be held accountable and responsible for the welfare of its artists,” the petition adds.
The change that people are advocating for in the legislation is referred to as “Liam’s Law.”
Fans have expressed their support for the petition, stating, “This is so important.”
Another supporter commented, “We have lost too many young people to this, and measures need to be put in place to protect children and young adults.”
