What we know about Liam Payne’s death, including some unanswered questions

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine authorities continue to investigate the death the former One Direction singer Liam Paynewho died on Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling three stories from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

Payne was a beloved member of the group Founded in 2010 according to its members – Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik – auditioned as soloists for singing competition series The X-Factor and were brought together by judge Simon Cowell to form the band. They became one of the most successful boy bands of all time, with a loyal Directioners fanbase and a meteoric rise to fame comparable to Beatlemania.

Here’s what we know about the star’s untimely death – and what’s still unknown.

Police responded to hotel staff’s 911 call minutes before Payne’s fall

Hotel staff in Casa Sur Hotel In the Argentine capital’s chic Palermo neighborhood, where Payne was staying, he called police on Wednesday evening to express concerns about a guest who was said to be “overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol.” Police rushed to the hotel, responding to the call just after 5pm local time and later confirming they had arrived just minutes before the fall.

In a 911 call obtained by The Associated Press, the hotel manager can be heard saying the guest “destroyed the entire room” and adding, “You need to send someone please.” The manager’s voice was heard in As the call progressed, I became more and more concerned and discovered that the room had a balcony.

Prosecutors are treating Payne’s death as “suspicious” – here’s why

Officials said Payne’s fall injuries alone were enough to cause his death, but prosecutors called Payne’s case “suspicious,” citing the likelihood that the star had been drinking alcohol and taking drugs. The office also confirmed all indications that Payne was alone at the time of the incident, and authorities have ordered a toxicology report.

Whether the fall was intentional or accidental remains unknown, but the prosecutor said the lack of defensive injuries to Payne’s hands suggests that “he did not adopt a reflexive stance to protect himself and that he fell into a state of semi-consciousness.” or completeness could have fallen.” Unconsciousness.”

Police: Payne’s hotel room was found in “complete disarray.”

Buenos Aires police said they found Payne’s hotel room “in complete disarray.” They saw “various items broken” and found packages of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, energy supplements and other over-the-counter medications scattered among his belongings.

Forensics teams also reported that authorities recovered a whiskey bottle, a lighter and a cellphone from the courtyard where Payne’s body was found. Evidence collected at the crime scene suggested Payne was “experiencing some form of drug abuse,” Argentine authorities said in a statement.

In recent years, Payne had admitted in a YouTube post that he struggled with alcoholism video published in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after treatment.

Authorities continue to investigate Payne’s death

While police and prosecutors await the results of the toxicology report, they continue the investigation and attempt to reconstruct Payne’s final moments. Authorities said they took statements from three hotel employees and two women who visited Payne in his hotel room hours before his fall. The two women were leaving the hotel at the time of the incident, the prosecutor said.

Payne’s death raises questions about media ethics while fake content circulates

TMZ, a celebrity news site known for its headlines and tabloid sensibilities, initially published cropped photos of Payne’s body after the fall, showing his identifying tattoos, in its early coverage Wednesday. After intense backlash, the site retracted the photos.

In the updated version of the story, the outlet wrote, “TMZ has seen a photo showing Liam’s body on the hotel patio with tables and chairs nearby,” and then described the tattoos and how the image contributed to early reports about Payne’s to confirm death.

Fans took to social media to express their outrage at the outlet’s decision to share the photos.

TMZ did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The photos are still circulating on social media, as is a video of a man jumping from a burning building, which users mistakenly believe to be a video of Payne’s fall. Several other videos of people falling or jumping from balconies also circulated. X’s Community Notes feature, which allows readers to provide context and, in this case, debunk misrepresented content, is present in several, but not all, posts.

This is how One Direction reacted to Payne’s death

The survivors Members of One Direction — Horan, Tomlinson, Styles and Malik — issued a statement Thursday saying they were “completely devastated” by Payne’s death.

“As time goes on and everyone is able, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved very much. The memories we shared with him will be remembered forever,” her statement concluded.

Malik And Tomlinson They also shared individual tributes on their Instagram pages Thursday, each reiterating that Payne is a brother to them.

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Huamani reported from Los Angeles.