On Thursday afternoon, Argentine fans gathered around the city’s prominent obelisk monument to honor Liam Payne, the troubled boy band icon. The former One Direction member died in a dramatic fall from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
After falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony on Wednesday, Payne, 31, who gained international popularity with the boy band X Factor, was discovered dead. His death sparked a wave of fan tributes from Britain to Buenos Aires.
Prosecutors said Thursday that he died from several wounds and bleeding. They added that an initial search indicated the fall was caused by substance use, including alcohol and narcotics. His hotel room was discovered to be in “total disarray” with broken furniture.
Many fans gathered outside the hotel where he was staying to hold a vigil both overnight and Thursday morning. While other fans stood outside in tears, they left notes and flowers and lit candles that dripped wax down the sidewalk.
“Liam marked a before and after in my life. You never prepare for a moment like this, you always think that from now until we’re 50 years old they’ll still be there,” said Argentine Jazmin Argañaraz, 23, a One Direction fan since she was 11.
“It is very important that we take a minute to think about what is behind fame.”
The sentiment was mirrored by musicians and fans worldwide.
According to a statement issued by the other members of One Direction, they were “completely devastated” by the news. Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zain Malik, who were members of the group, each claimed that it was like losing a brother.
The death has “hit the community” in Wolverhampton, England, where Payne was raised, according to student Jordan Jackson.
“He’s a local boy, so. Yeah. I think it’s just a sad day for the community and a sad day for, you know, all fans alike.”
The city’s art merchandise vendor, Shanice Samuels, described it as a setback to family and community. Payne and Girls Aloud’s former spouse, Cheryl Cole, had a little kid named Bear.”
“He’s a dad. He’s a son. He’s a brother. And he means a lot to people and especially our community as well. And it’s just really sad to hear about it,” Samuels said.
Fara Nabi, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mother in London, claimed to have identified with the One Direction generation and to have understood his suffering.
“I grew up with One Direction and he’s kind of similar to my age and he was also a dad. I’m a mum of two boys,” she said.
“The entire thing’s horrible.”
According to London theater professional Poppy Barker, it reflects the demands of celebrity. Payne had previously discussed his struggles with alcoholism and mental health disorders.
“Fame at such a young age is a very, very difficult thing. And I think that those boys have managed it in different ways,” Barker said. “It’s very, very sad.”
Guido Renversade, 24, said the death had hit like a “cold shower” back at the obelisk in Buenos Aires.
“We didn’t expect this. One Direction made me who I am. Liam made me who I am,” he said.
“I think that artists who transcend do so because of the quality of their music but also because of their charisma.”
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