The news, which shook fans around the world, revealed that Payne, aged 31, had died in October 2024 after a fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina. The cause of death was later confirmed to be multiple traumatic injuries, with toxicology results citing the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription medication.

@steven “Niall broke the news” Louis Tomlinson describes the moment he heard devastating news that Liam Payne had passed away. He recalls having a similar feeling to when his sister, Félicité, passed away. #onedirection #louistomlinson #celebrity #liampayne #liampayne  original sound – The Diary Of A CEO

“It was the same feeling I had with Félicité,” Tomlinson shared, referencing the tragic loss of his younger sister in 2019. “Anyone who’s been close to someone struggling knows that feeling,  my 150 percent wasn’t nearly enough.”

 Tomlinson went on to reflect on Payne’s state of mind at the time, acknowledging that while he had tried to be there, the pain his friend was carrying ran far deeper than he could have understood.

“That’s my own arrogance,” he admitted. “Thinking I could have helped. But it was more than I could reach.” Shortly after the news broke, Tomlinson posted a quiet, heartfelt tribute on Instagram — “lost a brother,” he wrote… a sentiment that continues to echo with those who grew up watching their shared rise.

 

 

 

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  A post shared by Louis Tomlinson (@louist91)

The statement in part read: 

“A message to you Liam if you’re listening…,

I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be…

I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.. 

I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you… 

Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X”

Having stepped out from the shadow of his boyband beginnings, Louis Tomlinson has firmly established himself as a solo force.

With two No.1 albums to his name and over 4.5 billion streams under his belt, Tomlinson continues to evolve, most recently with the release of “Lemonade,” a sun-drenched teaser from his forthcoming record How Did I Get Here?. 

But Louis’s vision extends beyond the studio. He’s the driving force behind the DIY-spirited Away From Home Festival, and the founder of 28 Clothing, a genderless streetwear label that reflects the same grounded authenticity that’s come to define his post-1D journey.

You can access tickets to Louis’ forthcoming tour here. 

The former One Direction star had signed on to take part in the first season of the new show, where a group of singers search for their perfect bandmates and try to form a compatible group – without seeing each other.

Sharing the show’s trailer via Instagram on Tuesday (June 24), Gibbins wrote: “I didn’t know whether to share this, but it felt weird when I’ve raved about Liam’s work and achievements for the last 15 years.”

“I’m heartbroken he never got to see how great he is in this show. He knew he had done a good job, we all told him this when we were at filming, but watching it back, wow!

“You’re a star Liam, you always were and always will be. There are a range of emotions I felt watching this, but one of the main ones is immeasurable pride, always. Miss you more every day.”

In a press release, Netflix revealed that Payne’s family had “reviewed the series” and supported it going ahead as planned. Payne features as a judge alongside Nicole Sherzinger and Kelly Rowland. AJ McClean of Backstreet Boys will also host.

Last year, the world was shocked to hear of Payne’s passing. The popstar died on October 16 last year after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was later revealed the cause of death was due to multiple dramas and internal and external bleeding.

Earlier this year in April, Gibbins shared her sorrow with a heartfelt message to him on social media: “6 months, half a year without you?! My head is still screaming for you. Each morning on waking, I feel like I am plunged underwater, gasping for air that never comes to relieve me.

“Living without you is impossible, so for now, I exist. I’m learning to laugh or smile in the right places, but mate, it’s exhausting when all I want to do is speak to you. In the few moments I allow myself to feel love and not just loss, I can really smile at memories of us, like last year when we were doubled over laughing at us tring to make something we’d seen on YouTube, but memories are always tinged with sadness at how unfair it is we can’t make new ones.”

Building The Band is coming soon to Netflix – the first four episodes of the show will be released on July 9, with episodes five to seven and eight to 10 coming out on July 16 and 23. For our previous coverage on the show, click here.

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Filming on the show wrapped prior to Payne’s death last October. Back in January, the show was listed as one of the most anticipated 2025 Netflix shows.  The show is a Love is Blind-style talent contest in which singers form their own bands without being able to see each other. The Building the Band talent competition series from Remarkable Entertainment, which is part of Banjay, UK, aims to form the next great music group sight unseen. The series will culminate in three live shows that were filmed in late August in front of a live audience in Manchester.

Possible adjustments by the Building the Band producers to address Payne’s loss could include his fellow judges and Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean, host of the competition series, offering a tribute in the opening episode.

The singer who came to fame whilst being part of very famous boyband One Direction in 2010 died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires which came as a shock to the whole entire world. The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina is continuing to investigate the circumstances around Payne’s death at the Casa Sur Hotel. Five people have since been convicted in the singer’s death,  including the singer’s friend Roger Nores, the hotel manager, and a receptionist – who were all accused of manslaughter. Two others, a hotel employee and a waiter, have been charged with supplying cocaine, Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office previously said in a statement.

The streaming date of Building The Band is yet to be confirmed.

In the statement, the family said: “Liam’s death was an unspeakable tragedy,”

“This is a time of tremendous grief and pain for those who knew and loved him. Liam ought to have had a long life ahead of him,” they added about the late One Direction singer.

“Instead, Bear has lost his father, Geoff and Karen have lost their son, Ruth and Nicola have lost their brother and all of Liam’s friends and fans have lost someone they held very dear.”

They also said that Bear is now “trying to process emotions which no 7-year-old should have to experience.”

The family’s statement comes after Argentinian authorities have dropped charges against Payne’s friend Roger Nores, and two hotel workers. Five people were arrested and charged in connection with the One Direction stars death, with Nores charged with negligent homicide, and the hotel employees charged with manslaughter.

Payne’s family addressed this in their statement: “We understand that the investigation into Liam’s death was absolutely necessary and the family recognises the work done by the Argentinian authorities. However, the family accepts the Court of Appeal’s decision to drop all charges.”

Two other men are still charged with supplying drugs to Payne on the night of his fatal fall.

Payne died, age 31, in October 2024 after falling from the balcony of a third-story hotel room in Casa Sur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The ‘For You’ singer suffered multiple head traumas, including a fractured skull, leading to internal and external bleeding. At the time of his death, he was intoxicated, with alcohol and multiple drugs in his system.

The family also acknowledged the emotional tribute to Liam at the Brit Awards on Saturday: “This weekend, at the Brit Awards, Liam was remembered for his phenomenal contribution to British music and for his wider, positive impact on millions of adoring fans the world over. We joined in that celebration of his life and will forever remember the joy that his music brought to the world.”

In an emotional segment mid-show segment, Jack Whitehall, one of Payne’s friends, led the tribute, saying that “He achieved so much in the short time that he was on this earth, and was not only a supremely gifted musician but an incredibly kind soul who touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with,”

“We have so many amazing memories of Liam here at the Brits, so tonight we celebrate his legacy and look back and remember the remarkable Liam Payne.”

The screens then showed a montage of the late musician, with live performances, soundbites from interviews, and photos and videos from throughout his life and career – set to ‘Little Things’ by One Direction. You can find our write-up of this year’s Brit Awards here.

The 45th Brit Awards unfolded tonight, March 1, at London’s O2 Arena, celebrating the pinnacle of musical talent from the past year. Hosted by Jack Whitehall for the fifth time, the ceremony was marked by standout performances and notable victories.

Charli XCX won Song of the Year for her collaboration with Billie Eilish on ‘Guess’. The singer was against The Beatles, Dua Lipa, Myles Smith, and JADE in this category. In her acceptance speech, she said: “Thank you, this is cool. I’m pretty happy that a song about underwear now has a Brit Award.”

Charli xcx accepts the award for ‘Song of the Year’ at The BRIT Awards 2025. pic.twitter.com/d3bbkxVknc

— xcxshake (@xcxshake) March 1, 2025

The singer also won Best Album, Best Dance Act, Songwriter of the Year, and Artist of the Year, a total of five awards. JADE won Best Pop Act. Other nominees included Myles Smith and Lola Young. This marks JADE’s first solo Brit Award since Little Mix announced their hiatus in 2022. The singer also delivered a captivating performance of her debut solo single ‘Angel of My Dreams‘.

Sam Fender won Best Alternative/Rock Act against The Cure and also delivered a performance of his latest single ‘People Watching‘. The musician expressed his gratitude to his fans, acknowledging their pivotal role in his success. He further thanked his band, stating: “I want to say a huge thanks to my band, who without, I’m just a mad person shouting at walls.”

Sabrina Carpenters acceptance speech for the Global Success award at the 2025 #BRITs!pic.twitter.com/fCRHsgjA1K — Sabrina Carpenter Daily (@SCdailyupdates) March 1, 2025

Chappell Roan won International Song of the Year for ‘Good Luck, Babe‘. The track entered the Official Singles Chart Top 40 in April 2024. It peaked and remained in the Top 10 for 16 weeks and was the eighth biggest single of 2024 in the UK. The singer also won International Artist of the Year. Stormzy won his fourth Brit Award for Best Rap/ Hip-Hop Act and RAYE secured her seventh Brit Award for Best R&B Act.

Raye‘s acceptance speech for ”Best R&B Act“ at the 2025 #BRITs. pic.twitter.com/OQPvTaawXR

— RAYE Infos (@rayeinfos) March 1, 2025

A heartfelt tribute was paid to Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October 2024 at the age of 31. The ceremony featured a video montage celebrating Payne’s life and illustrious career, from his early days on The X Factor to his monumental success with One Direction and his subsequent solo endeavours. The montage included performances, childhood photos, and personal moments with his family, all set to the backdrop of One Direction’s ‘Little Things‘.

As the 2025 Brit Awards came to a close, the night celebrated the very best in British and global music, with standout performances and unforgettable moments. The prestigious awards highlighted the diverse talent shaping the music scene, from breakthrough stars like Myles Smith to industry icons like Charli XCX. As the music world continues to evolve, the BRITs 2025 undoubtedly set the stage for another year of exceptional creativity and success.

The show was announced in August of last year, as the three judges were revealed alongside the show’s presenter, AJ McLean of The Backstreet Boys. However, since Payne’s passing in mid-October, following a fall from an Argentinian hotel balcony, Netflix failed to address whether the show would continue without the presence of Payne.

According to Netflix’s press release on the details of the show, they will aim to form “the next great music group” without its members seeing one another. The competition surrounding the formulation of the group will see its members placed together based solely on their “musical compatibility, connection, and, most importantly, merit.”

Netflix has now confirmed that “Building The Band”, the talent show in which Liam Payne appears as a guest judge will be released.

A release date has not been announced yet but it possibly could be released later this year. pic.twitter.com/4D6OOLvWNN

— Remembering Liam Payne (@updatingljp) January 30, 2025

Despite Netflix failing to address the show’s future at the time of Payne’s passing, during a special presentation in Los Angeles on Wednesday (January 29), Brandon Riegg (Vice President of Nonfiction Series and Sports), alluded to the ideal that the platform had no plans of neglecting the show, and it’s producers were working closely with Payne’s family, with more to be announced in the near future.

Building the Band was one of the ‘Teardrops’ singer’s last known projects before his passing, including a track with Sam Pounds, ‘Do No Wrong’. The posthumous track was intended to be released just two weeks after the singer’s passing but was eventually postponed out of respect for Payne’s mourning family and his fans.

Payne’s funeral was held in Buckinghamshire where singer Cheryl, his son Bear, fellow One Direction members and more mourned the death of the popstar. Since his passing, the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office are continuing to investigate Payne’s death and the circumstances it surrounded at the Casa Sur Hotel. In light of the investigation, five people have been charged with his death – Roger Nores (Payne’s friend), the hotel manager, a receptionist – all accused of manslaughter, and a hotel employee and waiter charged with supplying cocaine.

As more information is revealed surrounding Payne’s death, the potential future release of both ‘Do No Wrong’ with Sam Pounds and Building the Band, highlight methods made for Payne’s musical legacy to remain at the forefront of the industry and his fan’s minds.

Roger Nores, a friend of Liam, has made the claims in a 91-page document to support his defence to the charge of abandonment followed by death. This charge accuses him of leaving Payne, knowing that he was unable to take care of himself and in an unstable state.

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A post shared by Louis Tomlinson (@louist91)

The Rolling Stone reports that Nores wrote “I was a friend who loved him very much, who helped him selflessly in everything I could”, arguing “I do not consider that I deserve the accusation that is being levelled at me.” If convicted, he could spend up to 15 years in prison.

Last week, a judge called for an “indagatoria” – requiring suspects to be questioned as part of an ongoing investigation. In response, Nores has submitted his version of events as well as screenshots of conversations from people close to Liam.

The friend of the late popstar asserts in upsetting detail that in the past couple of years, Payne’s drug habits had allegedly led to multiple hospitalizations and stays in rehab, as well as two suspected resuscitations to save his life following overdoses – once in London in 2023, and another time in 2024.

Roger also states that Liam stayed clean and sober during the summer, including during a trip to see his former bandmate Louis Tomlinson perform in Argentina – but by August, Nores claims he and Payne had a “strong argument” where he insisted that the artist not return to Manchester, where he believed the singer had relapsed intro drug use.

Fans were left heartbroken in October after the singer passed away following a fall from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Airies, Argentina. He was reportedly visiting the country to reunite with his old One Direction bandmate Niall Horan at a show on October 2. A viral video taken at the concert showed Payne dancing and singing to screaming fans from his crowd seat.

The Argentinian prosecutor’s office later declared that the cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding – toxicology reports have also shown that the musician had pink cocaine and other intoxicating substances in his system at the time of the fall.

Since his death, tributes have come in from friends, fans and collaborators. Argentinian supporters have been marching for justice in the capital, intending to put pressure on the authorities to hold people to account, specifically staff at the CasaSur Palermo hotel where he died.

As songs from his former group One Direction have resurged on the charts, a posthumous collab with Sam Pounds has been delayed, with the producer keeping in mind the wishes of the singer’s grieving family – more on that here.

After promoting the release of his new single in collaboration with Liam Payne only a couple of days ago, producer Sam Pounds has taken to social media to announce his decision to postpone the release of the song leaving “those liberties to family members”, as he stated in his X post. The news comes after fans had attacked Pounds following the single’s announcement, speculating whether the former One Direction star’s family had been made aware of the announcement, and claiming that Pounds had decided to release it, only three weeks after Payne’s death, to profit off the passing of the singer.

The single, titled “Do No Wrong”, was supposed to come out on Friday. After Pounds’s announcement, however, it’s unclear whether the song will be released as a single in the future or whether it’ll be part of a bigger project, perhaps the album that Payne had been working on before his sudden death this October.

Today I’m deciding to hold “ Do No Wrong” and leave those liberties up to all family members. I want all proceeds go to a charity of their choosing (or however they desire). Even though we all love the song it’s not the time yet. We are all still mourning the passing of Liam and…

— Sam Pounds (@iamsampounds) October 29, 2024

Earlier this October Pounds had commemorated Payne in a now deleted Instagram post, where he stated that Payne wanted Chris Brown to work on their song, “Do No Wrong”, and shared a short video of he and Payne listening to the unreleased track. Fans weren’t happy about Payne’s wish to include Brown in the song: the latter has, in fact, often been in the spotlight due to the many accusations of alleged abuse from various music and movie stars over the years, including Rhianna. Fans didn’t take Payne’s wish to work with an alleged abuser lightly: only a couple days before his death, the singer himself was heavily discussed in the news due to his former fiancée’s, Maya Henry, claims of alleged abuse. Henry had posted a TikTok speaking about the alleged physical and psychological abuse she had suffered during her relationship with Payne. Henry recently revealed to podcast “The Internet is Dead”, that her debut novel, released in May, was inspired by her relationship with the singer.

But Henry’s revelations were not the only issue that Payne had faced in the week prior to his death: many sources have in fact confirmed that, days before his sudden passing, Payne had been dropped by his label for unknown reasons. In March, Payne had released a new single and teased a new album, which according to the singer was going to be deeper and more personal than his first solo release, LP1, but had announced the project had been put on hold shortly before passing. His career as a solo artist had failed to gain him the success he had experience during his time with One Direction, with singles failing to achieve high positions and critics even describing one his songs, “Strip That Down” as one of the worse songs of the year.

Sam Pounds posted on social media earlier this week to announce the release of the new single, on which he and Payne had collaborated shortly before the latter’s passing. The producer has anticipated that there will be different versions of the song released, including a live mix and a Acappella version. He has also revealed the artwork of the song: an illustration of wings and a broken heart. Pound wants to make sure that the world has some new songs to remember Payne by. With the announcement of the new single, Pound wrote on social media in a now deleted post that he hopes this new song will be a blessing to the world and it can bring comfort to his fans and especially his family.

November 1st pic.twitter.com/bLbPxaqZBC

— Sam Pounds (@iamsampounds) October 26, 2024

Pounds has previously worked with artists such as BTS and Snoop Dogg, he is well known in the music industry for his ties to artists such as Drake or Jamie Foxx and in 2023 the producer released his debut album “Don’t forget where you came from”.

After Payne’s passing, Pounds took to social media to share a heartfelt message about the singer, saying that he had read reports but he “knew his heart” and shared a video of himself working with Payne on the single. Pounds’s comment refers to the reports of Payne past conduct in relationships, as days before his death his ex-fiancée Maya Henry had released a statement on social media which claimed had been abusive towards her during their engagement and time together. She released an interview to “The Internet is Dead” podcast just before Liam’s dead, stating that Payne would often text her and her family, even after their breakup, asking for help and claiming he wasn’t doing well. Henry has, since Payne’s passing, asked for privacy on social media.  

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Payne’s solo career after One Direction had never reached the success the artist had in his time with the band; he had released his debut album “LP1” in 2019 but had failed to reach successful positions on worldwide charts. His latest single “Teardrops” had peaked at 43 on UK charts after being released in March, and Payne had teased that to be the first song out of a more personal, deeper album which was originally set to come out before the end of the year. It’s unclear whether we’ll ever get to listen to the album after Payne’s passing.

The song, set to be released on Friday, can be pre-saved on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer.

The news of Payne’s heartbreaking death was reported last Wednesday evening, as the ex-band member fell from a third-floor hotel balcony, dying aged 31. Liam Payne along with his fellow bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan found their acclaim on X Factor back in 2010.

All over the world fans are mourning the young pop star’s death by reminiscing his contributions to the music industry. As fans begin listening to their favourite band’s music once again, many have acknowledged Payne’s smooth tones that kept the group in unison during their X Factor experience, along with his playfully thought-out lyrics in both his accredited tracks for One Direction and his solo material.

Legendary tracks from One Direction are set to re-enter the UK Official Chart’s Top 40 following the singer’s tragic death. The UK Official Charts Company has estimated ‘Night Changes’ at 16, the former Number 2 ‘Story Of My Life’ at 21 and One Direction’s first single and chart-topper ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ at 47.

In conjunction with the growth of popularity in One Direction’s tracks, Payne’s solo hits are also estimated to re-enter the charts. This includes Payne’s first solo single ‘Strip That Down’ featuring Quavo at 75, ‘For You’ with Rita Ora at 67 and ‘Teardrops’, Payne’s last single released March of this year, at 65.

The resurgence of One Direction and Payne’s tracks will battle against ‘Die With A Smile’, a single released in August by Joker actress Lady Gaga and US singer Bruno Mars, and Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’, which continues to top the charts.

@about.london Honouring Liam Payne at the Peter Pan Statue #liampayne #hydepark #kensingtongardens #memorial #onedirection #1D #peterpan #london #fyp ♬ Walking in the Wind – One Direction

The newfound popularity of these tracks accompanies the occurrence of many vigils and memorial spaces throughout the UK and the world, set up by fans to remember Liam Payne.Fans have gathered in their hundreds to grieve the pop star, singing Payne’s and One Direction’s songs to feel close to the singer. The tragic death of the singer has brought about a heightened sense of unity between fans and members of the industry as they mourn the loss of Payne.

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Whilst coming to terms with the news, the official One Direction social media posted for the first time in four years to share their devastating loss. In a statement signed “Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry”, Payne’s bandmates said: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, 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 dearly.”

To accompany the message the singers took to their personal social media pages to express their condolences with heartbreaking personal statements and throwback pictures.

The tragic death of Liam Payne marks the continued legacy of an iconic pop star gone long before his time.