Local newspaper La Nacion reported Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, it said, citing emergency services.
Witnesses told local media Payne had fallen from the balcony of his hotel room shortly after 5pm on Wednesday (local time), AFP reports.
“So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne’s passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend,” Paris Hilton posted to X.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Charlie Puth took to Instagram following the news to commemorate Payne, writing: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I [cannot] believe he’s gone.”
He shared footage of him and Payne smiling together with the text: “I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace.”
He later posted a photo of him and Payne to his feed without a caption.
Quavo, real name Quavious Keyate Marshall, featured on Payne’s debut solo single Strip that Down in 2017, the year after One Direction announced their hiatus. The song has been streamed over a billion times on Spotify, and sold 11.5 million copies worldwide.
Singer, songwriter and producer Ty Dolla $ign, real name Tyrone William Griffin Jnr, also took to Instagram to mourn Payne with a photo of the two, seemingly taken in a recording studio.
“Just talked to you 2 days ago my guy. Ima miss u frfr [for real for real],” he wrote alongside a video of the late star.
Irish singers and TV presenters John and Edward Grimes, collectively known as Jedward, also paid tribute to Payne.
“RIP Liam Payne, condolences to friends and family,” the twins wrote. “Sending strength to Cheryl [Cole, his former partner and the mother of his child] and his son Bear and all the One Direction Family.”
RIP Liam Payne 💔 condolences to friends and family
“I will never forget the day I was able to interview one of the singers who was part of the soundtrack of my childhood and adolescence, that moment will always be in my heart,” Brazilian actress and TV presenter Maisa Silva said on X, formerly Twitter, according to a translation.
RIP liam payne. nunca vou esquecer do dia em que pude entrevistar um dos cantores q fez parte da trilha sonora da minha infância e adolescência, esse momento estará pra smp no meu coração. descanse em paz e obg por tudo. 💔🥺 pic.twitter.com/FYHl5eUTTh
New Zealand-British journalist and presenter Dan Wootton also honoured Payne on X, citing the “truly evil” music industry.
“What an appalling tragedy and waste of life. Liam Payne was always the most mature member of One Direction in those heady early days. He was a joy to be around. The music industry is truly evil. My thoughts to his poor family, bandmates and fans who will be devastated.”
What an appalling tragedy and waste of life. Liam Payne was always the most mature member of One Direction in those heady early days. He was a joy to be around. The music industry is truly evil. My thoughts to his poor family, band mates and fans who will be devastated. pic.twitter.com/eq4ilXBDZN
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Liam Payne’s passing. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the many fans who loved and supported him,” streaming service Spotify said in a statement, while MTV wrote: “We’re deeply saddened to learn of Liam Payne’s tragic passing today. During this difficult time, our hearts remain with his family, loved ones, and fans.”
“RIP to Liam Payne ... much too young,” American rapper Flavor Flav said in a post to X.
German music producer, DJ and Payne’s Get Low collaborator, Anton “Zedd” Zaslavski, described the news as “absolutely heartbreaking”, adding: “RIP Liam ... I can’t believe this is real.”
“I am heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Liam Payne. I can barely believe it. Sincere condolences to his family,” British author E. L. James posted.
American singer Corbyn Besson said the news of Payne’s death had rendered him “speechless”.
“Damn this Liam Payne news got me speechless ... looked up to 1D [One Direction] so much during the WDW [his band, Why Don’t We]days. You really never know when it’s your time to go,” he wrote.
“Remind your friends/family that you love them today and every day.”
RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real… absolutely heartbreaking … 💔
damn this liam payne news got me speechless… looked up to 1D so much during the wdw days. you really never know when it’s your time to go. remind your friends/family that you love them today and every day pic.twitter.com/rArPVaeVhu
British broadcaster and journalist Piers Morganreposted TMZ’s report on Payne’s death with the caption, “Good grief ... what a shocking tragedy.”
“R.I.P. Liam Payne, wow I can’t believe it, prayers up for the family,” rapper and songwriter Juicy J weighed in, while internet personality Taylor Caniff posted: “Liam Payne’s death is sad, very very sad. He played a roll [sic] in all our childhoods. Just doesn’t seem real ... I’m speechless. Rest Easy.”
Fellow musician JVCKJ, one half of the pop-rap duo Jack & Jack, branded the news “gut-wrenching”.
“If this Liam Payne news is true that s*** is honestly so gut wrenching ... was such a nice guy the few times me and G [bandmate Jack Gilinsky] ran into him [sic],” he wrote.
Just days ago, Payne’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry had lawyers issue a cease-and-desist letter after accusing Payne of “ceaselessly contacting her, using different iCloud accounts to continue to reach out”. The couple broke up in 2022.
A representative for the Texan model, 23, told the Daily Mail she was “obviously in shock” at the news of Payne’s death.
”We just found out from a reporter contacting us. Right now she is obviously in shock. But I will let you know if we choose to comment,” the rep said.
“Rest in peace Morgan Spurlock it was a pleasure working with you [sic],” Payne captioned the photo.
Liam Payne and Maya Henry attend the Elton John Aids Foundation's 30th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 27, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. Photo / Getty Images
Payne rose to international stardom as one-fifth of the English-Irish boy band One Direction, who formed and placed third on the seventh series of the British television series The X Factor in 2010. The group, one of the best-selling boy groups of all time, went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
After the band’s dissolution, Payne embarked on a solo career – releasing the hit single Strip that Down in 2017 and his debut album LP1 in December 2019.
Born on August 29, 1993 in Wolverhampton, England, Payne first began performing in theatre productions as a young child.
He was just 14 when he first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, where he moved onto the second round after performing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon. He was eliminated at Boot Camp, until host Simon Cowell – who would later sign One Direction to his record label – changed his mind and asked Payne to return. He was eliminated again at the judge’s houses, but was encouraged by Cowell to come back “in two years” – which he did.
One Direction soon became teen idols, often sparking widespread hysteria among fans. They embarked on four world tours and released five studio albums – Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014), and Made in the A.M. (2015).
