Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has tragically passed away after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina.

Local police confirmed that the 31-year-old fell into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, before paramedics arrived and confirmed his death.

According to authorities in the capital, officers had initially responded to reports of “an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

In widely circulated audio from a call made by hotel staff to emergency services, a member of staff requested assistance for a guest whose “life may be in danger”. The caller also reported that the guest had been “trashing the entire room”, adding: “We need someone to come urgently, please.”

Photographs showed distraught fans gathering outside the hotel after police had cordoned off the area. Forensic investigators, wearing protective suits and gloves, were seen entering and leaving the premises. Fans were later seen lighting candles and laying flowers in tribute to the late musician in a makeshift roadside vigil.

Payne’s death follows reports that his former fiancée, Maya Henry, had begun legal proceedings, including an alleged cease-and-desist order in response to repeated contact from Payne. The US model, who was engaged to the singer from August 2020 until their split in June 2021, recently posted a TikTok video alleging that Payne had been “blowing up my phone” with calls from different numbers since their break-up.

Hours before his death, Payne had shared a video on Snapchat in which he remarked, “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina.”

The Foreign Office confirmed it was liaising with Argentinian authorities “regarding reports of the death of a British national”, but declined to comment further on the individual’s identity.

Britain’s Got Talent also postponed its auditions in light of Payne’s passing. A spokesperson for the programme’s producer, Fremantle UK, stated: “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to delay the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s family, friends, and loved ones.”

The show’s producer did not specify when auditions would resume.

Former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary, speaking on ITV’s This Morning, described Payne as having an “unbelievable, soulful voice” and being “central” to One Direction’s success during their rise to stardom on The X Factor. O’Leary recalled Payne as “wise beyond his years” yet also “wide-eyed about the world and his place in it”.

“It’s an extraordinary amount of pressure to be under at such a young age,” O’Leary noted. “He’s experienced global fame for nearly half his life, which is an incredible burden to carry.”

O’Leary also reflected on the longevity of One Direction’s success, attributing it to the band members’ strong wills and determination regarding their musical direction.

“I received messages last night from former colleagues at The X Factor who feel a sense of protectiveness over the members of the band,” O’Leary added. “We all grew up with them in a way, and we’re sending all our love to Liam’s friends and family.”

Payne joined One Direction in 2010 alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles, after individually auditioning for The X Factor. The group went on to become one of the biggest pop sensations worldwide, releasing five albums and completing four global tours before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.

In an interview with The Diary Of A CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett, Payne spoke openly about his struggles with alcoholism during his time in One Direction, describing how he had hit “rock bottom”. He also revealed that his addiction continued during the COVID pandemic, but in 2023 he announced he had been sober for nearly six months following a lengthy stay at a rehabilitation facility in the United States.

Earlier this month, Payne attended his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.

Payne, originally from Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album, LP1, in December 2019. The album featured hits such as Polaroid, Familiar, and Strip That Down, which featured Quavo. The latter track became a UK top 10 hit, along with For You, a duet with Rita Ora, from the soundtrack to the film Fifty Shades Freed. The pair performed the song live at the Brit Awards in 2018.

Payne was previously in a high-profile relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, with whom he shares a son, Bear, born in 2017. The couple were together from 2016 until their separation in 2018.

He had originally auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 at the age of 14, performing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon. Judge Simon Cowell encouraged Payne to return to the competition in two years. In 2010, he impressed the judges with his rendition of Michael Bublé’s Cry Me A River before being placed with four other solo hopefuls at boot camp to form One Direction.

In August 2023, Payne postponed a planned tour of South America after suffering from a “serious kidney infection”. He said at the time that the infection was something “I wouldn’t wish on anyone” and explained that doctors had advised him to rest.

In October of the same year, Payne was banned from driving in the UK after admitting to a speeding offence. He was reported to have been travelling at 43 mph in a 30 mph zone and was given a six-month driving ban, in addition to a fine.

In August this year, it was announced that Payne would serve as a judge on a new Netflix series alongside former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger. The show would see the judges assess contestants’ chemistry as they attempted to form a successful music group.