Liam Payne's stunned fans gather to cry, sing and grieve together outside Buenos Aires hotel
An improvised altar with burning candles was set up on the sidewalk outside the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina.
Liam Payne’s death at 31 caused shockwaves — and devastated fans gathered outside the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to mourn him.
The British singer, who shot to superstardom as part of One Direction, fell to his death from his third-floor hotel balcony on Oct. 16. He is survived by his parents, his two older sisters and his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend, singer Cheryl Cole.
"We are heartbroken,” his family said in a statement released by his spokesperson. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Payne was visiting Buenos Aires and attended his ex-bandmate Niall Horan's concert on Oct. 2.
As his death made headlines across the world, hundreds of fans — who were swept into 1D mania when the boy band burst on the scene in 2010 — came together outside the Argentine hotel where he died to honor him with candles, flowers, letters and songs.
An improvised altar with burning candles was set up on the sidewalk outside the hotel. Fans sat on the curb crying and hugging one another.
There were handwritten letters, including one that said, "We love you Liam. Thanks for loving us too. You will be remembered. Thank u for your kindness. Rest in peace."
Photos from fan magazine profiles on the singer from his early days of stardom were taped to a pole.
Police had shut down part of the road from traffic and the hotel's entrance was closed off with tape.
One mourner, Violeta Antier, told Reuters she came to the hotel immediately after hearing the news.
"I saw him two weeks ago at a Niall [Horan] concert," Antier said. "He was there, I saw him. He was OK."
Another fan, Martina Belaustgui, told the Guardian that she was "feeling heartbroken."
"I remember when I was a kid I had a lot of bullying in my school and his songs helped," she said. "I’m devastated. I came as soon as I heard the news. I saw him at Niall’s show a few weeks ago. He was singing and dancing and jumping.”
Fans sang Payne's songs — and played them too.
Payne showed off his talent on The X Factor U.K. in 2008. Two years later, he catapulted to stardom with the British group One Direction, which swept the world. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Payne launched a solo career, releasing his album, LP1, in 2019. He's been open about struggles with mental health and addiction.
The events around Payne's death are still unclear. There was a 911 call placed from the CasaSur by a hotel manager about an “aggressive man.” Buenos Aires police said Payne suffered “extremely serious injuries” from his balcony fall.
Payne arrived in the city in late September with girlfriend Kate Cassidy. She previously said in a TikTok post that they extended their trip after they arrived. Cassidy left days prior to Payne's death, she shared on social media.