Tributes have been paid to former One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died in Argentina aged 31.
Liam Payne burst onto the scene alongside teenagers Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik in boyband sensation One Direction following their appearance on the X Factor in 2010.
Payne died after falling from a third floor at a hotel in Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, police have confirmed.
“Liam James Payne, composer and guitarist, former member of the band One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo”, a police statement said.
“The worst news”
Presenter Dermot O’Leary who hosted The X Factor at the time, led the tributes to Liam Payne, calling his death “the worst news”.
“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 just loved to sing”, O’Leary wrote. “He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble”.
Olly Murs who competed on The X Factor a year after One Direction, also paid tribute to Liam Payne.
The singer wrote: “Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear losing a dad”.
Anne Twist, who is the mother of Harry Styles, former ID bandmate of Liam Payne, also paid homage to the singer. He added the caption: “Just a boy…”.
Charlie Puth who collaborated with Payne on the track, Bedroom Floor, also shared this message.
“Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone”, he said.
The singer is also survived by his seven year old son Bear, who he shares with his former partner and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole.
