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Liam Payne’s death: Old video mistakenly shared as former One Direction member’s ‘fatal fall’ in Buenos Aires

Liam Payne’s death: Old video mistakenly shared as former One Direction member’s ‘fatal fall’ in Buenos Aires

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead outside a Buenos Aires hotel after the 31-year-old fell from the balcony of his third-floor room, Argentine police said on Wednesday. Just hours after his death, a video purportedly showing the singer’s fatal fall began circulating on social media. Although the video garnered thousands of views online within minutes, many were quick to debunk it. Others criticized those who posted or re-shared it and called for respect for the late singer. (Also read: One Direction singer Liam Payne found dead in Buenos Aires: report)

Liam Payne of One Direction (1D) performs at MetLife Stadium in 2015 (Robert Altman/Invision/AP)

Fact check: Liam Payne’s death video shared on social media?

Video shared online shows a man, believed to be Liam Payne, falling from a building. Given that Liam died in a fall from his hotel balcony, many assumed it was a video of his final moments. The accompanying caption claimed this. However, online fact-checkers were quick to point out that the video was from 2023 and the man in question was not Liam Payne at all.

Liam Payne died on Wednesday in Buenos Aires at the age of 31. In a statement, Buenos Aires police said they were called to a hotel in the leafy Palermo district where they were informed of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

The hotel manager said he heard a loud noise at the back of the hotel, and when police arrived they found a man had fallen over the balcony of his room, the statement said. Rescue workers confirmed the death of the British singer, who was reportedly found in the hotel’s courtyard.

Reactions to Liam Payne’s death

US music channel MTV, streaming service Spotify and the BRITs British Music Awards all expressed their sadness on social media and offered their condolences to his family and loved ones. Payne had a son named Bear with British TV personality and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl in 2017.

Police had received a call from a hotel employee requesting urgent help for an intoxicated guest, according to an audio file related to the case obtained by the Buenos Aires Ministry of Security.

“If he is conscious, he will destroy the entire room and we need you to send someone,” the worker said, adding that the guest’s life was in danger because his room had a balcony. Rescue workers removed the body from the hotel to take it to the mortuary, while fans and spectators who had gathered earlier in the evening, some hugging and crying, burst into applause.

With contributions from Reuters