Liam’s 7-year-old son cried and said: “Dad, I miss you, tomorrow you will take me out to play but why do you keep sleeping? Kate Cassidy hit you last night

Liam Payпe’s heartbreakiпg fiпal words aboυt his soп, Bear, have resυrfaced followiпg the siпger’s shock death at age 31

The former Oпe Directioп member fell from the third floor of CasaSυr Palmero Hotel iп Bυeпos Αires shortly after 5pm oп Wedпesday eveпiпg

Iпvestigatioпs iпto his death are still oпgoiпg aпd city ambυlaпce service provider spokesmaп, Αlberto Cresceпti, stated Payпe had sυffered ‘severe iпjυries which were iпcompatible with life.’

Liam welcomed his seveп-year-old soп, Bear Grey, with Cheryl Cole iп March 2017 – aпd earlier this year iп Αυgυst, made rare commeпts aboυt his ‘miпi me’ soп while celebratiпg his 31st birthday

Iп aп Iпstagram video υploaded at the time, the late star told his followers, ‘I didп’t get aпy dad socks yet thoυgh. I’m goiпg to speak to my soп iп a little bit which I’m really excited aboυt

‘Bless him. He’s gettiпg so big пow. He’s a big boy aпd he looks like a miпi me. Αs if we пeeded aпy more me iп the world.’

 

. 

Iп 2016, he begaп datiпg Cheryl Cole after her divorce from Jeaп-Berпard Ferпaпdez-Versiпi aпd their soп was borп the followiпg year. However, iп 2018, the pair split

Αfter a brief relatioпship with sυpermodel, Naomi Campbell, the siпger begaп datiпg Maya Heпry iп 2019 – aпd became eпgaged the пext year. Iп 2022, the former coυple officially weпt their separate ways

Jυst days before Liam’s death, Heпry had begυп to take legal actioп agaiпst him after accυsiпg the Oпe Directioп star of obsessive coпtact aпd ‘weapoпiziпg’ his faпs agaiпst her

Bυt пot loпg after his passiпg, Maya broke her sileпce – with her represeпtative telliпg DailyMail.com: ‘Right пow she is obvioυsly iп shock.’

Up υпtil his death, Payпe had beeп iп a relatioпship with Kate Cassidy, whom he started datiпg iп October 2022

Both Liam aпd his ex, Cheryl, have maiпly kept their soп oυt of the pυblic eye bυt he has made other previoυs commeпts oп Bear iп the past

Dυriпg aп iпterview with People iп 2022, the For Yoυ siпger sweetly gυshed that his soп looks at him like ‘a sυperhero.’.

‘I see him two times a week, three times a week sometimes. Αпd I make sυre wheп I see him, he has 100 perceпt of my time. I make sυre that I’m пot oп my phoпe or dickiпg aroυпd somewhere else.’.

Payпe added at the time, ‘So, I like to give him those momeпts aпd it’s importaпt, he пeeds that iп his life.’.

‘He пeeds his dad iп his life, aпd I’m happy he looks at me like a sυperhero, aпd I’m hopiпg to keep it that way.’

Liam reportedly fell from a hotel iп Bυeпos, Αrgeпtiпa oп Wedпesday aroυпd 5pm (ΑRT)

Αlberto Cresceпti, a city ambυlaпce service provider spokesmaп, stated that Payпe had falleп 40 meters aпd sυffered ‘severe iпjυries which were iпcompatible with life.’

‘The alarm was raised at 5:04pm local time sayiпg a persoп was lyiпg iп aп iпterпal patio at Casa Sυr. Αt 5:11pm aп ambυlaпce arrived aпd the maп was certified dead.’

Cresceпti added, ‘Αfterwards we foυпd oυt he had beeп a famoυs siпger. Uпfortυпately the iпjυries he had sυffered as a resυlt of the fall proved to be fatal. There was пo possibility of resυscitatiпg him.’

Earlier this moпth, Liam had receпtly watched his former baпdmate, Niall Horaп’s, coпcert iп Αrgeпtiпa

Payпe’s fiпal Sпapchat posts have also beeп revealed пot loпg after his tragic death which showed him posiпg with his girlfrieпd, Kate Cassidy, oпly miпυtes before ‘falliпg off a balcoпy.’

 

Oпe image showed both Liam aпd Kate paυsiпg for a mirror selfie together as well as aпother post where he looked iпto the camera aпd typed, ‘Lovely day iп Αrgeпtiпa. 

He shared aп additioпal photo as he stood close пext to Cassidy, which was captioпed as ‘Qυality time.’..

Liam iпclυded a pictυre of aп oυtdoor patio aпd peппed, ‘Happy I got some time away,’ aпd he shared aпother where he revealed he was debatiпg aboυt beiпg Forrest Gυmp for Halloweeп

Payпe also υploaded a photo of food both he aпd Kate eпjoyed aпd wrote, ‘We’ve beeп wakiпg υp at 1pm everyday.’

Iп 2008, Liam kickstarted his mυsic career after aυditioпiпg oп The X Factor wheп he was jυst 14-years-old iп froпt of jυdges Simoп Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Loυis Walsh aпd Daппii Miпogυe

He was cυt from the competitioп series bυt retυrпed iп 2010, aпd joiпed Harry Styles, Zayп Malik, Niall Horaп aпd Loυis Tomliпsoп to form the boy baпd, Oпe Directioп

The groυp woп third place oп The X Factor aпd weпt oп to become a global seпsatioп, with hits sυch as What Makes Yoυ Beaυtifυl aпd Live While We’re Yoυпg

The baпd released five stυdio albυms, iпclυdiпg Up Αll Night (2011), Midпight Memories (2013) aпd Made Iп The Α.M. (2015) followiпg Malik’s departυre from the groυp

Iп 2016, Oпe Directioп weпt oп aп iпfiпite hiatυs…

.

Αs a solo artist, Payпe dropped siпgles sυch as For Yoυ with Rita Ora for the Fifty Shades Freed soυпdtrack

Over the years, Liam has also battled with health strυggles as well as alcoholism aпd sυicidal thoυghts

Iп 2021, while oп the Diary Of Α CEO podcast, he opeпed υp aboυt sυfferiпg from depressioп aпd sυbstaпce abυse dυriпg his time with Oпe Directioп

‘I was worried how far my rock bottom was goiпg to be. Where’s rock bottom for me? Αпd yoυ woυld пever have seeп it. I’m very good at hidiпg it. No oпe woυld ever have seeп it.’.

Wheп host qυestioпed if Liam’s dark thoυghts iпclυded ‘sυicidal ideatioп,’ the siпger said ‘Yes.’.

‘Yeah. There is some stυff that I have defiпitely пever, пever spokeп aboυt. It was really, really, really severe. It was a problem. Αпd it was oпly υпtil I saw myself after that I was like, “Right, I пeed to fix myself.”‘

Payпe recalled seeiпg photos of himself lookiпg ‘bloated’ which he labeled as his ‘pills-aпd-booze face.’.

‘My face was jυst, like, 10 times more thaп it is пow. I jυst didп’t like myself very mυch, aпd theп I made a chaпge.’.

The shock death of One Direction star Liam Payne in Buenos Aires sees the 31-year-old leave behind a mega fortune for his only child.

Liam Payne, a former member of the iconic British boy band One Direction, died after a fall from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires.

According to local police reports via CNN, Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires at a hotel on Costa Rica Street in Palermo.

Liam Payne’s death has shocked the world. Picture: Marc Piasecki/GC Images

Payne shares his only child, a son born in 2017, Bear Gray Payne, with former Girls Aloud singer and former X Factor UK judge Cheryl Cole.

Payne’s amassed a net worth of over AU$109m (around £56m) and achieved this through his musical career, numerous tours, and property portfolio that included homes in the lush hills of Malibu and the scenic county of Surrey in South West England.

The late singer with his then partner former X Factor UK judge and singer Cheryl Cole (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

Payne captured the world’s attention alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan as part of the British boy band phenomenon One Direction when they first found fame on the UK reality show The X Factor in 2010.

The band became a global sensation before announcing a hiatus in 2015. Payne then pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album “LP1” in 2019.

Properties that make up part of Payne’s fortune include:

Monte Nido Mansion:

The Monte Nido mansion had paranormal activity according to Payne’s ex partner Cheryl Cole Source: Hilton & Hyland
In 2021, Liam Payne, former member of mega boy band One Direction, made headlines with the sale of his haunted Monte Nido mansion for $A13.1m ($US10.161m).

Payne was unable to sell the home for several years.

The transaction barely turned a profit over five years after he purchased the property for $US10m in 2015 – Payne said at the time his then partner Cheryl Cole had paranormal experiences in the residence.

Payne revealed Cheryl avoided the top room during her pregnancy with son Bear, fearing the supernatural presence he believed existed in the home.

The home was unable to be sold for several years but was eventually sold to pop star Halsey
The singer recounted eerie occurrences such as flickering lights and randomly running taps.

Initially listing the charming mansion for $US14m in 2018 before dropping the price to $US10.75m — pop sensation Halsey was named as the new owner.

The mansion nestled in the hills above Malibu, the sprawling estate spanned nearly five acres.

Some features of the home included a main 9,700-square-foot house, guesthouse, recording studio, and various entertainment amenities.

The lush grounds boast manicured gardens, koi ponds, waterfalls, a pool, and a meditation house designed to offer serenity and elegance.

Surrey Home:
Inside Payne’s $12.3m Surry home, with a tribute to Bono.
Liam Payne listed his stunning AU$12.3m (US$8.9m) mansion in Surrey, United Kingdom following his split from partner Cheryl Cole.

The Georgian-style five-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion, located just outside London, featured a statement exterior with a modern and vibrant bachelor pad within.

The home included ice-white interiors, with ample space for entertaining.

The property included a lush garden, a swimming pool, a soccer pitch, and a tennis court.
A giant Iron Man statue was a statement piece for Payne’s cinema room.
The home cinema included a secret door from the games room, filled with film posters and eccentric art pieces.

Payne was known for his taste with whimsical additions like a life-size Iron Man figurine in the home and eclectic decor choices.

His Surrey Home included a miniature living area with a plush velvet couch and a zebra-patterned carpet.
The late pop star’s mancave featuring a bar, pinball machines, pool table and library.
Photos of his Former Surrey Home:

The stunning rear view of the mansion showcases a pristine swimming pool and expansive lawns, perfect for outdoor relaxation and events.

Image Credit: Seymours

An aerial view of the estate reveals its grandeur, featuring the elegant mansion, expansive outdoor areas, and a large pool surrounded by lush greenery.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Another aerial view of the mansion’s backyard highlights the pristine swimming pool surrounded by a spacious patio, perfect for lounging and outdoor entertaining in a private and serene setting.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

The festive front entrance features elegant holiday decorations, complete with glowing lights and two toy soldier figures guarding the door, adding a warm and inviting charm.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

The lights beautifully illuminate the grand Georgian-style facade at night, while the circular driveway and manicured landscaping enhance its elegant, private feel.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Beautiful lighting illuminates the mansion’s exterior at night, showcasing its grand architecture while expansive windows reveal glimpses of the warm and inviting interiors.

Image Credit: Rightmove

The grand entrance, with its Georgian-style facade and illuminated by elegant outdoor lighting, is framed by a manicured garden and a central fountain that enhances its stately charm.

Image Credit: Rightmove

Lush greenery and a beautifully lit fountain in the front garden enhance the home’s tranquil and elegant ambiance, creating a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Nestled among the trees, this charming guest house offers a cozy, rustic retreat, with its classic wooden exterior and quaint dormer windows that evoke a sense of peaceful seclusion.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Surrounded by lush greenery, the outdoor tennis court offers a peaceful setting for recreation, seamlessly blending into the estate’s natural landscape.

Image Credit: Rightmove Luxurious Interiors

The open-plan living and kitchen area combines sleek modern design with neutral tones, creating an inviting space perfect for entertaining and relaxation.

Image Credit: Seymours

Warm and inviting, the family living room features neutral-toned furniture, a central fireplace, and large windows that flood the space with natural light.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Centered around a roaring fireplace, the living room provides a warm and inviting space, featuring modern furnishings and large windows that fill the room with natural light.

Image Credit: Rightmove

The grand entryway features polished floors, sleek lighting, and a modern staircase, setting the tone for the bright, open, and sophisticated design throughout the mansion.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Boasting a modern staircase and minimalist design, the hallway features crisp white walls and polished floors, leading to the home’s upper levels and open spaces.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

A sleek fireplace centers the cozy sitting room, while natural light fills the space, and modern furnishings create a stylish yet comfortable atmosphere for relaxation.

Image Credit: Rightmove

The sleek home office features a minimalist black desk, large windows for natural light, and a stylish chair, creating a productive yet welcoming space with an artistic flair.

Image Credit: Rightmove

Large, modern light fixtures and windows offering views of the surrounding greenery adorn the stylish dining room, creating an ideal setting for elegant dinners and gatherings.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

The bright dining area flows seamlessly into the open-plan living space, with large windows offering views of the landscaped grounds, making it ideal for family meals or entertainment.

Image Credit: Seymours

This modern kitchen, with its glossy black cabinetry and oversized island, blends functionality with sleek design, perfect for both casual family meals and hosting guests.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

The kitchen and living area seamlessly blend together, featuring a fireplace and comfortable seating, offering a warm and inviting space for everyday living or entertainment.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

Plush seating and a starry ceiling equip the private cinema room, while movie posters and an Iron Man statue complement the space, offering the ultimate experience for movie lovers.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

The private cinema room features plush seating and a large screen, creating a cozy and luxurious space for enjoying films with family or friends.

Image Credit: Seymours

Fully equipped with professional-grade exercise machines, weights, and ample space, this modern home gym provides an ideal environment for maintaining fitness and staying active.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

The games room combines luxury and entertainment, featuring a pool table, pinball machines, and arcade games, creating a lively space for relaxation and fun with family and friends.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

A plush oversized bed with unique decorative pillows takes center stage in the luxurious bedroom, designed with minimalist elegance to create a peaceful and stylish retreat.

Image Credit: Rightmove

Soft tones, plush carpeting, and large windows inviting natural light transform the spacious primary bedroom into a calming retreat that offers both luxury and tranquility.

Image Credit: Rightmove

This cozy bedroom showcases a modern, minimalist design with neutral tones and plush bedding, centered around a sleek fireplace and large mirror that create a serene and luxurious atmosphere.

Image Credit: YouTube | Famous Entertainment

A minimalist bathroom with a freestanding tub and dark wood floors exudes warmth and modern elegance, designed for ultimate relaxation.

Image Credit: Seymours

The luxurious master bedroom features plush bedding, a fireplace, and modern accents, offering a spacious retreat filled with natural light.

Image Credit: Seymours

A spa-like bathroom with a freestanding bathtub and skylight provides a serene atmosphere, complemented by marble floors and sleek, contemporary fixtures.

Image Credit: Seymours

In a stunning and emotional turn of events, the remaining members of One Direction — Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik — have collectively announced their retirement from the music industry. The shocking news came shortly after the tragic passing of their former bandmate Liam Payne, and in a joint statement, the members also revealed the deeply hidden story behind Liam’s departure from the spotlight, which has left fans heartbroken and filled with regret.

The announcement, which was shared simultaneously across each of the members’ social media platforms, caught the world by surprise. The decision to retire comes at the peak of their individual careers, but the timing and nature of the joint announcement suggest that Liam’s departure had a much larger impact than anyone could have imagined.

In their emotional statement, the members disclosed that Liam had been silently struggling for years, dealing with the immense pressures of fame, personal challenges, and health issues that were kept hidden from the public eye. According to the band, Liam’s departure from the music scene was not just a decision to step away but was rooted in the overwhelming burden that he had carried for much of his career.

“We all knew Liam was going through a lot,” the statement reads. “But what we never shared with the world was how deeply it affected him and how much he tried to keep it all together for the fans and for us. Liam gave everything to One Direction, but over the years, it became clear that the fame, the expectations, and the pressure were too much.”

The members confessed that despite their attempts to support Liam behind the scenes, the weight of his struggles ultimately led to his exit from the band. His departure, they now reveal, wasn’t just about seeking solo ventures but about his desperate need for peace and recovery.

“As much as we tried to help him, it became clear that Liam needed to take care of himself. We’re so sorry we didn’t speak up sooner, but out of respect for his privacy, we kept the truth hidden.” 

The statement further revealed that Liam’s passing left them devastated and that their decision to retire is a tribute to their late friend, as they no longer feel they can continue without him. Each member expressed their deep love for Liam and shared their regrets over not publicly addressing his struggles earlier, hoping that by revealing the truth now, it might bring awareness to the mental and emotional toll fame can have.

Fans, upon hearing the news, were overcome with a mix of grief, shock, and regret. Many expressed sadness that Liam’s struggles had been so well-hidden and that his departure had a far deeper meaning than anyone had realized. The outpouring of tributes for Liam has grown, with fans reflecting on his contributions to the band and mourning the loss of a beloved figure who had given so much of himself, even at a great personal cost.

The announcement of the band’s retirement marks the end of an era for One Direction and has left fans around the world grappling with the suddenness of the news. Though each member had forged successful solo careers, their collective departure from the music industry signals that the bond they shared with Liam was irreplaceable and that his loss has forever changed the course of their lives.

As the music world mourns both the loss of Liam and the end of One Direction, the members’ candid reveal of Liam’s struggles has brought much-needed attention to the challenges faced by public figures. Many are left wondering what could have been different if the band had spoken out sooner, and there is a growing call for more support for mental health in the entertainment industry.

The legacy of One Direction will live on in their music, but the heartbreak surrounding Liam Payne’s departure and the members’ final decision to retire has left a profound impact on fans and the industry alike, reminding everyone that behind the fame and success, personal battles can take an unimaginable toll.

Heartbreaking ‘final’ texts Liam Payne sent to his pal revealed: Friend opens up about moment former One Direction ‘wasn’t answering’ phone

Liam Payne’s close friend has shared the heartbreaking final conversation they had pop star before he plummeted 45ft to his death from a hotel in Buenos Aires.

Jodie Richards, who formerly taught Payne performing arts at Pink Productions in Wolverhampton, thought initial reports of the ex-One Direction members death was ‘fake’.

Payne suffered a fractured skull after falling from the third floor of Casa Sur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires shortly after 5pm (ART) yesterday evening.

In the wake of the 31-year-old’s death, tributes have flooded in from across the globe as his friends and family mourn.

Ms Richards revealed her tragic correspondence with Payne only hours before his sudden death.

In an interview with Sky News Ms Richards explained that Payne had messaged her to ‘touch base’ and check how everyone was in his hometown of Wolverhampon.

Jodie Richards, who formerly taught Payne performing arts at Pink Productions in Wolverhampton, has revealed their heartbreaking final exchange

She revealed that the pair would often talk  on a nearly daily basis, and the star had ‘touched base’ with her on Monday only days before his death (Pictured: A recreation of the texts)

She divulged that she and the 31-year-old spoke on an almost daily basis for years, as he continued to sky-rocket of fame.

In screenshots obtained by the news outlet, Payne text Jodie on Monday to see how she was, to which she informed him that she was at the gym with her son.

After receiving a photo from the singer with his hand on his head, Ms Richards said: ‘Sorry just home.’

However when news broke of the star’s tragic death in Buenos Aires a few days later,  the close friend sent a series of panicked and heart-breaking texts.

‘Liam!!!,’ the first read, followed by: ‘Please tell me this isn’t true!!!!!!’

Her following tragic messages to the star alsoread: ‘Please Liam.

‘Goodnight Mr P. I have no words and don’t want to say goodbye. When I wake up I’m sure it will all be a dream.’

Reliving the horrifying moment when news of Payne’s death broke, she told SkyNews: ‘I got messages coming through from friends, saying “Please tell me it’s [Liam’s death] not true.

‘So, I had to Google it. Couldn’t believe what was happening I thought it was fake news.

Liam Payne (pictured in Argentina) may have been ‘semi-conscious or completely unconscious’ when he fatally fell from a third floor hotel balcony, Argentina’s prosecutor office has said

The hotel balcony where Liam Payne fell to his death from in Buenos Aires, Argentina, yesterday is circled

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died aged 31 after falling from a balcony in Argentina

Liam Payne had been staying in Argentina over the last few weeks and was pictured engaging with fans

During his short stay in the city he took time to socialise with fans outside his hotel

Last night, thousands of fans gathered outside the hotel where Liam Payne died

Some were pictured lighting candles and praying for the singer

Others held each sobbing as they paused to remember Mr Payne who was one fifth of the most succesful boy band of the 2010s

‘I tried to phone him, obviously he wasn’t answering. I tried to text him, it wasn’t going to a read message.

‘And obviously as I turned the telly on it was just getting more and more apparent that it wasn’t fake.

Ms Richards also spoke of images of Liam Payne’s dead body which were published by TMZ following his death.

Following backlash from fans, the publication have since removed the images.

‘I think it’s sickening to be fair that  those images have been shown as a friend you don’t want to see them,’ she said.

‘But especially as he has a child out there, he’s got a mum and dad that have had to see those images and they will be circulated for the years to come and that’s not really how you want to remember Liam.’

It comes as  Argentina’s prosecutor office said Liam Payne may have been ‘semi-conscious or completely unconscious’ when he fatally fell from a third floor hotel balcony.

Detectives confirmed that a series of substances were seized from the hotel room ‘indicating previous situation of alcohol and drug consumption’.

It contradicts police reports that the 31-year-old had ‘jumped’ from the third-floor hotel balcony.

His girlfriend Kate Cassidy posted a picture of the pair on her Instagram last August

A heartbreaking video shows Liam Payne singing and dancing at his former bandmate Niall Horan’s, where he later posted a picture with Niall to Snapchat captioned: ‘Reunited.’

Liam Payne with his father Geoff and mother Karen after the X Factor final in London in 2010

As well as father Geoff and mother Karen, Payne had two sisters, Nicola (left) and Ruth (right)

Nine weeks ago, Liam Payne’s father Geoff posted a photo of his son and his dog as he penned in the caption: ‘#Like if you love my son!’ – a post which has since been flooded with tributes

Prior to Payne’s death, hotel staff franticly called 911 regarding ‘an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol’ who was ‘smashing up his room’.

Hotel guests claimed to hear ‘violent noises’, and assumed there was construction work was ongoing in the room, according to the BBC.

Photos have also emerged from inside his luxury suite, appearing to show a trashed television, surfaces covered with tin foil and white powder as well as scorch marks on the wooden surface.

A preliminary report into the popstar’s death said ‘everything indicates’ Payne was alone when he died.

According to local news outlets, Payne was taken to the Judicial Morgue where medical staff conducted an autopsy last night.

After conducting a preliminary report, they suspect into Payne died from external and internal bleeding after sustaining several injuries.

Authorities have requested further tests including toxicological, biochemical, and histopathological examinations.

The prosecutor’s office said forensic reports showed no injuries were observed that suggest third-party involvement and that the autopsy is compatible with a fall from height.

However officials are still launching a probe into the ‘possible involvement of third parties’ in the events before his passing.

Liam Payne’s serious childhood trauma and why having a baby so young with Cheryl couldn’t bring the stability that may have saved him: KATIE HIND

It was the autumn of 2011, and I had been summoned to Sony Music’s west London HQ to meet Britain’s hottest new boy band.

A few months earlier, five hopeful teenagers had auditioned for ITV’s X Factor talent show – and the music impresario Simon Cowell had drawn them together to form One Direction.

The fledgling stars had already attracted a global fanbase in the millions: a juggernaut that was drawing comparisons to 1960s Beatlemania, even though they had yet to release a song.

Now that was about to change. The band’s debut single, What Makes You Beautiful, was launching the following week – and I was there to interview the boys behind it.

Although they had seemed like sweet young things when we had briefly met at the Fountain Studios in Wembley, north-west London, during their X Factor live shows the previous year, I had expected these precocious adolescents to now be full of self-importance at their growing fame.

How wrong I was.

Singer Liam Payne with his American influencer girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, 25, last year

I arrived to find five handsome young men politely waiting to greet me, but one of them stood out thanks to his cute curly hair and his charming, talkative manner.

No, not Harry Styles – the only ex-1D member who has gone on to forge a successful, long-term solo career – but Liam Payne. Dressed down in a navy hoodie and jeans, Liam wrapped me in a warm hug and excitedly introduced me to his bandmates – Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik – in his strong Wolverhampton accent.

Looking younger than his 18 years, Liam told me how badly he was missing his beloved mum Karen’s cooking – so much so that he had resorted to eating chicken dippers warmed up in the microwave.

Living as he was out of suitcases in hotels, he asked me for ironing tips as he had yet to learn how to use one – and said he still spent much of his free time playing Nintendo.

He admitted that he had practised putting his hands behind his back and trying to sing like his hero Liam Gallagher, the snarling Oasis frontman. ‘I probably looked a bit stupid though,’ he said.

He also spoke lovingly about West Bromwich Albion, the football team he had supported since he was a young boy – though he regretted that he no longer had time to cheer them on in person.

As for girls, Liam told me he preferred shy and quiet ones, although he revealed he’d fallen in love with X Factor’s 2006 winner Leona Lewis, while he found singer Tulisa Contostavlos ‘really, really hot’.

The pair in a selfie posted on Liam’s Snapchat account shortly before his death

Overall, he struck me as an innocent abroad – a child, really – who seemed too vulnerable a soul to last long in the cut-throat music world.

As the years passed, I met Liam many times at industry events and in chance encounters – and I never shook that worrying sense that he was, in some ways, a lost little boy.

I could never have known, of course, that just 13 years after our first interview, Liam would perish in the most terrible circumstances – following a long spell of torment, scandal and drink and drug abuse.

His descent into addiction had been playing out, in public and in private, for years – worsened by his fragile emotional state.

Many had tried to help him quit the substances that were destroying his life, but to no avail: following his death in Buenos Aires’s five-star CasaSur hotel on Wednesday evening, what appeared to be cocaine and heroin paraphernalia were found in his wrecked suite, with its smashed TV and half-drunk flutes of champagne.

It was a squalid end for one of the most famous young men in the world, so adored by ‘Directioners’ that he insisted he couldn’t leave his hotel without a large security detail (although it’s worth pointing out that other former bandmates, including the global megastar Styles, often travel without huge entourages).

So where did it all go wrong for him – and how did that smiling boy I met all those years ago, rough around the edges as he was, come to such a terrible end?

There is no doubt that he struggled, even more than his bandmates, with that explosive early fame and notoriety.

In a candid moment at 2014’s Brit Awards, Liam told me how difficult he found it to be unable to blend into a crowd. The band’s relentless schedule had taken its toll on him, as had the long months away from home.

He often wished, one of his friends later told me, that he had gone to university like many of his schoolmates.

Of course, Liam came to enjoy a lifestyle unimaginable to his old contemporaries at St Peter’s Collegiate, his Church of England secondary school in Wolverhampton.

Katie Hind meets One Direction soon after their creation, with Liam Payne second from right

Despite his insatiable appetite for drugs, his large property portfolio, his endless jaunts on private jets, taste for high fashion and luxury hotel stays, his bank balance was still thought to be in the millions when he died.

For all his fears that he had peaked so young, he still had decades ahead of him – and ample time to grow into the contented father to Bear, his son with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy, his friends and family longed for him to become.

But I can reveal that behind that smiling, cherubic face, Liam had suffered serious trauma in his childhood: a shadow from which he felt he could never escape and whose full details the Mail has chosen not to publish.

One friend told me: ‘Before he even began his showbiz career, he had demons from his formative years. He struggled with that and never quite got over it. He was in a band with four other guys, he could get any girl he wanted and he was earning millions – but he struggled to enjoy any of it.’

I can vouch for that: of all the 1D members, Liam seemed by far the most uncomfortable with his fame and fortune.

This is the last-known image of Liam Payne alive before his fatal fall. Fans have noted his apparent decline in recent years

I would see him most years at the Brits, where at first he would dash over to say hello, often reminding me that he had enjoyed me asking him ‘fun questions’ at our first interview.

Yet as time went on, his chaotic living began to catch up with him, and his manner became ever more unpredictable.

In February 2013, at a Brit Awards afterparty organised by his music label at the upmarket Arts Club in Mayfair, I saw him drunkenly dancing with his bandmates – by far the most bleary-eyed of them.

That December, I bumped into him in the Kurt Geiger shoe shop in Canary Wharf, east London, where he was buying his then girlfriend Sophia Smith – a former school sweetheart – a pair of boots for Christmas.

Gone was his carefree demeanour of just two years earlier, he now seemed strikingly shy. He told me he had bought a penthouse flat in the Docklands, and at my insistence, he posed for a picture with me before dashing off.

Not long before, Liam had completed a gruelling world tour with 1D: by then one of the most successful pop groups in history, selling some 70 million records under Cowell’s watchful eye.

During 2013’s Take Me Home tour, the band performed an average of a concert every two days, completing 124 dates between February and November. That, I’m told, put unbearable pressure on Liam, who would often say that he ‘just wanted to be normal’.

Liam was just 14 when he made his first X Factor appearance, winking at then-24-year-old Cheryl Tweedy. Here he is pictured two years later during rehearsals in 2010

Of course, the fame came with perks – women chief among them. Liam’s best-known romance was with Cheryl, who was ten years his senior, which had begun in 2016 following her split from her French husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.

They quickly became the most talked-about couple in showbiz –and only six months after they were confirmed to be an item, Cheryl revealed she was expecting their baby.

For Liam, however, the pregnancy was a huge shock: he was, he allegedly told friends, not ready to become a dad.

With 1D having gone on ‘permanent hiatus’ in 2016, he was trying to launch his solo career, and becoming a father – especially to a woman a decade older than him –was not part of his plans.

He told friends that he felt like Cheryl, who was 33 when Bear was born, had used him so she could have a baby.

When Bear, now seven, was born in 2017, Cheryl grew increasingly fed up that she was stuck at home with the baby while Liam was away jet-setting.

‘Liam was flying around the world promoting his music,’ said a friend. ‘He was in the zone Cheryl had been in ten years before with Girls Aloud. It led to some furious rows.

‘He began using private jets so he could get home quicker, but it wasn’t enough. Cheryl wanted a proper family unit and Liam just could not give it to her. Things got really bad and tempestuous. Liam was a young lad in his early 20s and he just wasn’t ready for it all.’

Inevitably, they split up – giving Liam even more time to ‘go off the rails’, as one former associate of the star describes it.

Even when they were co-parenting, Cheryl desperately hoped that Liam and Bear would develop a strong father-son bond, despite Liam’s addiction issues.

‘Cheryl knew what a state he was in,’ says a source. ‘She wished she could make it better.’

Liam and Cheryl started a relationship together in 2016, having baby boy Bear – now seven

And she wasn’t alone in that wish: as Liam turned from being a cheerful teenager into a tormented, angry young man, many of those closest to him tried unsuccessfully to rescue him.

He was dropped by more than one of his managers due to his erratic behaviour and his failure to turn up to work engagements.

In September 2017, Cheryl, Liam and Bear went on a luxury holiday to Majorca: a birthday treat for Liam. But he injured himself while drunk.

As the years went on, he only got worse.

In 2022, a gurning Liam appeared to be high on drugs at a post-Oscars party in Hollywood. In footage that went viral for all the wrong reasons, he replaced his Wolverhampton twang with a bizarre Los Angeles accent.

One friend of Liam’s called me in horror to share their fears that he ‘really wasn’t OK’. Last year, Liam moved to a sprawling mansion near the Buckinghamshire town of Chalfont St Giles to be further away from the temptations of London and closer to Bear, who lived nearby with Cheryl.

However, neighbours tell me that he brought his problems with him. They would often spot him coming home in the early hours in chauffeur-driven cars, often with women in tow.

While I’m told he tried to see Bear regularly, his unpredictable lifestyle frequently made this impossible. Instead, Cheryl was largely left to bring up the little boy alone with the help of her mother Joan.

Liam’s new home was also close to a woman who some describe as his fairy godmother – the Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis.

Her husband Steve Finan worked with Liam for several years and the couple were at his side through some of his most difficult times – including his fall-out with Cheryl.

He would often stay at their home as they battled to keep him sober.

‘Liam adored Denise,’ says a source. ‘She mothered him and really tried to support him.’

Yet in recent months, his life was clearly spiralling out of control. His on-off girlfriend, Maya Henry, 23, had recently hired lawyers to send a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the star, accusing him of repeatedly contacting her and her loved ones.

Liam’s friends insisted he was angry and upset at her, adding that her behaviour was due to her wanting to publicise her new book.

And only last week, I’m told Liam had a huge row with his manager over his forthcoming album, whose release – to Liam’s fury – had been delayed because it was deemed ‘too poppy’.

A source said: ‘There was a blazing row and the album was put back again. The single from it had flopped and there were concerns. Liam desperately wanted that album to come out: despite everything, he thought of himself as a musician.’

To make matters even worse, just a few days ago Liam’s record label dropped him.

Another source said: ‘People begged him to get help and suggested that he went to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, but he wouldn’t take them up on it.’

His most recent girlfriend was Texan model Katie Cassidy, whom he thought might have been The One. She too had tried to help him, but left Argentina to return to the US two days before he died.

‘Lots of people cared for Liam,’ said a source. ‘He had so much love around him.’

Yet all the love in the world was not enough to rescue this desperately unhappy young man, who for all his fame and fortune could never escape the demons that haunted him from his lost, tormented youth.

Liam Payne found dead: Hotel room in chaos with drugs and broken TV

Disturbing details emerge as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the former One Direction star’s tragic death

CAROLINA MÁRQUE

Liam Payne, the beloved former member of One Direction, met a tragic fate this Wednesday, falling from the third floor of the hotel where he was staying in Buenos Aires. In a shocking revelation, reports indicate that his last hours were marked by a disturbing descent into chaos.

Liam Payne posted a video on Snapchat before his death

The scene

Photographs depicting the aftermath have been revealed in Payne’s Deluxe Suite at Casa Sur in Palermo, where the star encountered a fatal end. The images reveal a harrowing scene, including a television screen shattered by an impact.

Further unsettling details come to light from the suite’s desk, which contained a Dove soap container, matches, remnants of candles, aluminum foil, and a powdery substance believed to be cocaine. A lighter and a burned soda can top were also discovered among the debris, painting a picture of desperation and disorder.

In the bathtub of the suite, more remnants of candles and aluminum foil were found, alongside burn marks and stains that suggest a frantic atmosphere. Payne was tragically pronounced dead by police and emergency medical personnel from SAME (Emergency Medical Care System), after falling from the hotel’s third floor.

A 911 call reported the presence of “an aggressive man who might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” prompting the urgent response.

‘He would always play with death…’: Liam Payne’s ex-fiancé recently accused musician of ’obsessive contact’ after split

Maya Henry accuses Liam Payne of manipulation and obsessive behavior following their breakup in 2022. She claims he spoke frequently about death and contacted her and her family excessively, leading her to recently issue a cease and desist order.

‘He would always play with death…’: Liam Payne’s ex-fiancé recently accused musician of ’obsessive contact’ after split(AP)

Liam Payne ‘predicted’ his death earlier this month amid an ongoing tussle with former fiancee Maya Henry. The late musician was handed a cease and desist order last week for repeatedly contacting the influencer and ‘obsessively’ reaching out to her friends and family.

“Maya Henry issued a cease and desist last week to Liam Payne following the emergence of new and concerning information,” her lawyers told the Daily Mail on Monday.

She had also accused the star of playing on the loyalty of die-hard One Direction fans across social media in order to connect with her. Harris also opened up about the alleged abuse she faced from Payne during a recent episode of ‘The Internet Is Dead’ podcast.

“Ever since we broke up he messages me, will blow up my phone, not only from his phone, it’s always from different phone numbers too, so I never know where it’s gonna come from. He’ll create new iCloud accounts to message me – it’s always a new damn iCloud account. Every time I see one pop up on my phone I’m like, ‘here we f–kng go again’. Also, he will email me… not only me, but he’ll blow up my mom’s phone. Is this normal behavior to you?,” Henry said in a TikTok video posted on October 6.

The couple had ended their turbulent on-and-off relationship in 2022 — nearly a year after calling off their engagement. Payne had since moved on with new girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Meanwhile Harris is currently promoting her debut novel ‘Looking Forward’ — a fictional romance about a girl who falls in love with a pop star that was inspired by journal entries she wrote while dating Payne.

Details shared by Henry also appear to suggest that Payne had ‘predicted’ his own death earlier this month. Henry regarded Payne’s communications as a “manipulation tactic” designed to make her feel awful for him despite the fact that they were not together.

“He would always message me ever since we broke up saying, ‘Oh, I’m not well,’” she said. “He would always play with death and be like, ‘Well, I’m going to die. I’m not doing well’. There was one time I tried to get him help and then he was not taking it,” she said. “He would text my mom, ‘I’m not doing well, have Maya contact me,’ because I wouldn’t respond. It’s just always the same cycle,” she recounted.

“I don’t play with death,” Henry shared. “If you say this, I’m going to try and help you no matter what you’ve done. I think he took advantage of my family’s kindness.”

Henry claimed that one of Payne’s friends also called her, warning her not to publish the book for the sake of Payne’s mental health.

Henry stated she helped Payne go back into recovery but ultimately believed his behaviours were exploitative.

In the days leading up to his death, Henry alleged that the British singer’s action had “gotten so much worse,” though she wasn’t able to legally specify the details, likely due to the cease-and-desist letter she sent her ex earlier this month.

“He would always just say, ‘I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done. I can’t live with myself,’ but then is continuing to try and traumatize me,” she added.

“I know the lifestyle he lives, and there is a day when something bad is going to happen, so I would always be like, ‘OK, he’s saying these things, I have to help him because if I don’t I won’t be able to live with myself if something does happen to him,’” Henry added, reported Page Six.

Also Read | Liam Payne’s death: TMZ faces backlash from fans for photos of singer’s body

(With inputs from agencies)

 

 

Liam Payne, former One Direction member, allegedly died in Buenos Aires after falling from his hotel balcony. An autopsy revealed trauma and bleeding as the cause. Investigators found evidence of narcotics and alcohol in his room, and authorities are interviewing witnesses.

Tributes and flowers are placed outside St. Peter’s collegiate church to remember former One Direction singer Liam Payne, in Wolverhampton, Britain, October 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes (REUTERS)

Former One Direction member Liam Payne allegedly died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday after falling from the balcony of his hotel room. An autopsy has confirmed that the British singer’s cause of death was trauma along with internal and external bleeding, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, days before his passing, Liam Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, provided insight into her decision to leave him in Argentina. She departed Buenos Aires unexpectedly after they had been spending time together.

Payne and Cassidy had travelled to Argentina earlier this month to attend a show by Niall Horan, his former One Direction bandmate. Although they had planned to stay for five days, their trip was extended to two weeks.

Authorities investigating the scene discovered evidence in Liam Payne’s hotel room that included what appeared to be narcotics and alcoholic beverages, along with several damaged objects and furniture. Experts are currently working to determine whether the substances identified were indeed drugs.

Five witnesses have been interviewed, including three hotel staff members and two women who had been in Payne’s room earlier but had left before the fall occurred.

Moment before Liam Payne’s death

Moments before Liam Payne’s tragic fall, a hotel manager made a frantic call to emergency services, reporting an unruly guest at Hotel CasaSur Palermo in Buenos Aires. The manager described the chaotic situation, stating that the former One Direction member was “out of control” and “putting his life at risk,” requesting urgent assistance.

In audio obtained by The Sun UK, the manager, named Esteban, indicated that Payne was destroying his hotel room while under the influence of “drugs and alcohol.” He said, “We have a guest drunk with drugs and alcohol. When he is conscious, he is breaking everything in the room.”

Liam Payne was discovered on “The X Factor” in 2010, alongside his One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan. The five initially auditioned as solo artists but were ultimately grouped together to form a band, finishing third in the competition.

They were later signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and went on to become one of the highest-selling boy bands in history, with 70 million records sold worldwide before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016, according to Variety.

After the hiatus, Payne signed a solo record deal with Capitol Records U.K. and began releasing music in 2017, starting with the single “Strip That Down,” featuring Migos rapper Quavo. His debut solo album, “LP1,” was released in December 2019, and he recently put out a new single, “Teardrops,” in March, with a second album on the way.

(With inputs from agencies)

A video of Liam Payne singing an unreleased song has been posted online – bringing his loyal fanbase to tears after they heard the ‘brilliant’ track.

The unseen clip was posted by Grammy winner Sam Pounds, who was working with Liam on the new song shortly before his shock death earlier this month.

The song is called Do No More and is set to be released later this week, marking the first posthumous song to be shared with his fans since his passing.

Sam has shared a snippet of their song on his Instagram grid, alongside a clip of himself and Liam listening to the tune together.

Sharing the post with his 1million followers, he wrote: ‘Yea I see the reports but I knew your heart. Filmed by @roo0990. @liampayne originally wanted us & @chrisbrownofficial on this. A musical moment & tribute to @liampayne.’

The unseen clip was posted by Grammy winner Sam Pounds, who was working with Liam on the new song shortly before his shock death earlier this month

The song is called Do No More and is set to be released later this week, marking the first posthumous song to be shared with his fans since his passing

Emotional fans in the comments section shared their thoughts, with one saying: ‘Goosebumps. Thoughts and prayers out to you and his family;

‘Thank you for sharing this Sam. It is a healing for our heart. Though there is no comfort the pain is too much. We miss Liam so much. We wanted to see him well to release new music because it is what made him happy. And it didn’t happen.

‘I hope we get to hear all of LP2 one day. He was so talented. Everyone deserves to hear Liam’; ‘It sounds so good. Breaks my heart again’;

‘This is so good…’; ‘Hearing Liam’s angel voice breaks me over and over again, this is a beautiful song I know it would have been a huge success’; ‘Everything feels unreal, I miss him’; ‘This sounds like a banger’; ‘Literally breaking my heart because I know it would’ve been a huge success.’

The  posthumous song will be released on Friday – two weeks after his tragic death.

The producer hopes their song ‘eclipses the negative echoes’ and provides some ‘healing power’ for his loved ones and fans as they mourn the devastating loss.

Sharing the track’s artwork, an angel with a broken heart above its head, on X/Twitter=, Sam wrote: ‘I pray that this will be a blessing to the world like Liam has always dreamed.

Emotional fans in the comments section shared their thoughts, with one saying: ‘Goosebumps. Thoughts and prayers out to you and his family’

‘I pray angels will comfort you all everyday while listening. I pray that this song will be a blessing to [Liam’s sister] Ruth, [son] Bear, and the entire family.

‘I pray that this song eclipses the negative echoes. I pray supernatural positive healing power will embrace each and every one of you… With love let’s all BE the blessing.’

Sam recently revealed to his Instagram followers that Liam was keen to get Chris Brown to feature on Do Know Wrong.

Fans of Liam poignantly reacted to news of the new song penning on X: ‘I will show my love and support for him. I just wish he was here to see this.’,

‘We’ll make him proud one more time.’, ‘Ya know how much this would have meant to him.’,

‘This is amazing. hope we can do everything in our power to make Liam’s voice reach the world.’

Sharing the track’s artwork, an angel with a broken heart above its head, on X/ Twitter, Sam wrote: ‘I pray that this will be a blessing to the world like Liam has always dreamed’

The One Direction star fell to his death from the third floor of his room at the CasaSur Hotel (seen) in Buenos Aires

Fans of Liam poignantly reacted to news of the new song penning on X: ‘I will show my love and support for him. I just wish he was here to see this’

Tragically, the musician was in talks for a 2025 tour before his death.

The star was reportedly in negotiations for a series of live dates next year but friends were concerned he would not be able to handle time on the road.

A source told The Mirror: ‘When it emerged that Liam had been talking to new people about a series of dates, there was a great deal of unease among his friends that this was a bad idea.

‘Liam had split from his management about six months ago, and it would not have been something they would have recommended at the current time.’

Liam previously opened up about his second solo album at a fan event and revealed all the songs told a story from his life.

He said: ‘This time, the scariest part is that every one of these songs is a story from my life. And they’re really close to me.

‘I hope people feel that through every song, that I actually felt whatever it is you’re feeling right now listening to this.’

He added: ‘We’ve rewritten a lot of these songs based off the idea of where we’re going with this and also how I’m feeling as a person.

‘I used to show up to sing a song, then go. Absolutely not this time. We’re going to have fun with this.’

Children’s authors have hit out at Meghan Markle for seemingly thinking it would be an easy venture, despite The Bench only selling 8,000 UK copies.

Meghan Markle has been slammed by fellow authors for her “flop” book, The Bench, as they argue celebrities should stop trying to pursue side-hustles in literature.

Children’s authors have taken an issue with the Duchess of Sussex one day choosing to become an author, seemingly thinking it would be a walk in the park.

Meghan’s attempt was branded a “flop” by The Guardian, noting it “made a lot of headlines but didn’t sell at all well”.

According to figures for Nielsen BookScan and reported by the outlet, only 8,000 copes of The Bench have been sold in the UK since its release in 2021.

Author and poet Joshua Seigal hit out at the former royal for not appreciating the “skill, practice and discipline” required to be a professional children’s author.

Meghan Markle has been slammed by fellow authors over her ‘flop’ book, The Bench. (Image: YouTube)

The Bench reportedly only sold 8,000 copes in the UK. (Image: Getty)

He wrote: “These celebrities do not need any more money or exposure, but plenty of genuine writers do … Writing for children is an art.

“It requires skill, practice and discipline. I work really hard on my art, and it’s quite galling that people seem to think it is something that’s easy to do.”

Meghan reportedly bagged £500,000 for The Bench, despite it only being 40 pages.

Author James A Lyons vented his frustration, saying: “I sent out 180 queries across three manuscripts over four years. Non-celebrities face hundreds of rejections and not a fast-tracked ticket to the front of the queue.”

Author Katherine Rundell also expressed her fatigue with “those celebrities who put their names to ghostwritten children’s novels”.

She further commented: “We would be shocked if you put your name to a concerto you hadn’t composed; we would find it supremely embarrassing if you signed a painting you hadn’t painted.

“It poisons the water. It makes it harder for parents and teachers to find great children’s fiction, and it makes children’s fiction look like something cheap and thin, instead of what it is a literature with its own strangenesses, its own rigours, its own power.”

It is believed that the Duchess of Sussex penned The Bench herself. The book is a collection of thoughts and poems about the bond between a son and his father (who bears a striking similarity to Prince Harry).

Meghan is reported to have written it shortly after the birth of Prince Archie.