By: Mike Crooks
Former One Direction member Liam Payne has died, after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday night.
The British singer and songwriter was 31 years old.
He is survived by his 7-year-old son Bear Grey (with his former partner, singer Cheryl Cole), his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
His death was confirmed by the director of emergency services in Buenos Aires.
Police are investigating the cause of his death. The circumstances of what led to the fall remain unclear.
Mr Payne was in Argentina with his girlfriend, influencer Kate Cassidy, to attend a concert of his former One Direction band-mate, Niall Horan.
“We’re going to Argentina,” he said in an Instagram video before he left.
“One, because we want to. Two, because we want to. And three, because Niall Horan’s playing down there and I think we might just go and say hello.”
Tributes
Friends and fans have paid tribute to the former X-Factor contestant.
“I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me,” wrote singer Charlie Puth on Instagram.
“I cannot believe he is gone.”
The X Factor host Dermot O’Leary said Mr Payne’s death was the “worst news“.
“I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
“He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble. Sending love and prayers to his family.”
From X-Factor to superstar
Mr Payne, who was born in 1993, in Wolverhampton, England, rose to fame as a singer and songwriter for the group One Direction, who remain one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
One Direction were formed through Britain’s The X-Factor in 2010, after the judges put Mr Payne, a solo contestant, together with other contestants Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
The group didn’t win that year’s show, but went on to become worldwide superstars with songs such as “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life,” “Drag Me Down” and “Live While We’re Young.”
One Direction disbanded in 2016, and the next year Mr Payne’s son Bear was born.
“It’s fantastic watching him grow into the person he’s become,” he told People magazine in 2020. “He’s a really lovely boy and I feel like he’s in the middle of settling into himself.”
Mr Payne released a solo album “LP1” in 2019.
Reach out
For many, the death of a well-known and much-loved person can be shocking, and difficult to process.
Or it can be triggering for a person who has previously suffered the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one.
Mental health advocacy group ReachOut reports that bad news can cause anxiety and worry in people, as well as depression, confusion and anger.
For many, the death of a well-known and much-loved person can be shocking, and difficult to process.
The organisation reports that it is “totally normal” to feel overwhelmed by the news, especially when good news stories can seem harder to come by.
“A celebrity might feel like someone we know pretty well, so losing them can bring up a range of emotions including feelings of grief and loss,” Linda William, Clinical Lead at ReachOut, said in an interview.
“It is absolutely okay to feel upset, confused, and to grieve.”
Ms William suggests that it can be helpful to reach out to someone you trust to talk about what you’re feeling.
“Taking some time away from the news and social media if you need a break from hearing upsetting stories can also be helpful,” she said.
If you’re feeling down about the news, or any news you’ve come across today, ReachOut has some tips (source ReachOut):
Try to understand why the news is upsetting you
Sometimes, negative world news can hit close to home. Whether it’s a tragedy in your family’s country of origin, or the death of a person you really admire, world news can feel very personal.
If what you’re feeling is more than just a sense of empathy for those affected by a tragedy … chat to your friends, family or even a counsellor about how the news is affecting you.
Accept your level of control
Feeling helpless is a natural response, and one that can cause stress. Learning to understand how much influence we can have over something is a very important step in reducing the anxiety we might feel from hearing bad news.
Learn to switch off from bad news
It’s easier said than done, but taking a break from social media and the news can do a lot to help tackle the effects of bad world news.
Have “no news time” with loved ones
Spending time with friends or family can help boost your mood. Mention to your loved one that you don’t want to talk about news or current affairs. You could even specify which issue or story you want to avoid for the moment.
If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (or visit lifeline.org.au) or visit ReachOut and access peer support via ReachOut PeerChat and our Online Community.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: Photo by Jorge Gordo on Unsplash
About the author: Michael Crooks is a senior journalist and former news editor of Who magazine. His work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, news.com.au, Qantas magazine and more.