Liam Payne, 31, pop star and member of One Direction, was found dead after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Oct. 16.
The One Direction Instagram page, which had been inactive since July 2020, posted a joint statement following the loss of the former band member. Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik all shared personal condolences, remembering Payne’s energy and kindness.
Two weeks before his death, Payne attended Niall Horan’s stadium concert in Argentina. Payne’s presence at the concert evoked mass criticism online for “displaying so-called attention-seeking behavior.” Online criticism of Payne in recent years has been commonplace; the star received backlash after statements made on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast and had been scrutinized following the release of a novel, categorized as a roman à clef, by his ex-fiancée, Maya Henry. Days before his death, Henry had issued a cease and desist order against Payne.
Fans who grew up with their youth marked by One Direction have reclaimed their online fan accounts in mourning. The resurgence of “Directioners” is telling of the lasting impact the band has on the hearts and minds of fans. Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey.
Kiara Okonkwo is a writer and creative. She received a diploma in Screenwriting from Vancouver Film School and is pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Media and Communication Studies. Kiara values self-expression and authenticity.