Liam Payne’s final moments have been retraced in a new report, with devastating details emerging about the restless star’s final days and a worrying spiral
A recent report has shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding Liam Payne’s death, providing a heartbreaking glimpse into the star’s fears prior to his untimely demise. The former One Direction member, 31, tragically passed away last month after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
His body was discovered in an internal courtyard of the boutique hotel shortly after 5pm local time, with reports indicating he sustained “severe injuries which were incompatible with life.” Witnesses and a police report filed since the incident suggest that Liam was trying to escape from his hotel room and had threatened to use the balcony as an exit route.
A bag found on his body in the hotel’s internal courtyard suggests he may have been planning to leave the room. Here’s what we now know about Liam’s distressing downward spiral before tragedy struck, and the events that transpired in his hotel room.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Liam faced several challenging setbacks, with those close to him sounding the alarm before the tragedy occurred. His publicist resigned, leaving him without guidance during a tumultuous period, and he was reportedly dropped by his record label, Universal Music.
The Daily Mail reports that Liam was let go by the record label days before his death, with a source telling the publication: “Liam’s advance was massive and he didn’t recoup [it]. Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically,” reports the Mirror.
His second album release was allegedly put on hold. An insider has suggested that Liam’s eight-year-long music career seemed to be “crumbling” towards the end, and it “must have absolutely devastated him”. This coincided with actions taken by his ex-fiancé Maya Henry, who initiated legal proceedings against Liam after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her.
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In another clip, he poses for a photo before furrowing his brow and looking down. A different video shows Liam signing an autograph for a fan and asking the crowd for a ‘pen’ because he doesn’t have one.
When they respond “lapicera” in Spanish, he jokes: “I feel like you’re trying to make me say something rude.”
However, beyond the laughter, there are concerns that Liam wasn’t in a good mental state and was spiraling out of control. A woman, known only as Rebecca, who had a half-hour conversation with Liam in the hotel lobby hours before his death described him as “desperate” to be recognized.
She claimed he announced himself, unprompted, shouting “I’m Liam,” to a line of guests waiting for the elevator. She said that Liam returned to the lobby with his laptop.
Surmising that something in an email had “upset” him, Rebecca recounted: “Suddenly he took the computer, shouted “f–k this s–t mate! ‘ and started bashing the computer on the ground.”
One of Liam Payne’s last social media posts was a photo with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
The bizarre showing startled those present at the “high-end” hotel. Concerned, Rebecca approached to check on him, sharing, “But he just kind of grunted. Then he said ‘I used to be in a boyband. That’s why I’m so f–ked up’.”
His frank confession left her stunned, and she watched as he re-entered the elevator, later to be apologized for by a “British guy” who spoke to the group on “his behalf.”
Returning to the lobby, he tripped, prompting hotel staff to assist him back into the elevator.
Hotel concerns escalated quickly as employees felt compelled to secure Liam in his room using a master key, and they even removed a mirror outside his door for fear he might destruct it. Moments after leaving him alone, a quick 911 call was made by a hotel worker, highlighting that the singer was housed in a room with a balcony, articulating anxiety over the possibility of him attempting an escape.
Liam greeted beloved fans in Argentina and signed their T-shirts (
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The individual managing reception pleaded: “I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger. The room has a balcony and we are afraid he might do something. Just send an ambulance, only an ambulance.”
Following staff departure, Liam reportedly sought an escape through the balcony, which tragically led to his fall. When found, his body had a leather bag slung over it—a detail not seen when he was earlier helped into the lift.
Evidence points to the possibility that Liam had meticulously planned his descent. A guest on the second floor stumbled upon a leather bag filled with pills, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, and a note marked ‘for Liam’ on their balcony.
It is believed by investigators that this bag, confirmed to belong to the singer and different from the one found beside his body, was part of an escape strategy, deliberately lowered to the second-floor balcony. Authorities have dismissed the idea of suicide, suggesting instead that Liam was likely in a state of “semi or total unconsciousness” when he fell.
The incident is also thought to be connected to a drug-induced “psychotic episode.”
Hotel fears are now emerging as well. As reported by TMZ, those close to Liam recall his consistent discomfort with being trapped in hotel rooms, a sentiment dating back to his time with One Direction.
In a 2021 interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Liam shared: “My dad said it from day one – lonely hotel rooms, man – getting locked in that room is not fun when you’ve been exposed.”
Liam was visiting Argentina to see bandmate Niall Horan perform (
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This aversion reportedly led to another balcony escape attempt in September, when he was confined by his security team in a Florida rental due to concerns about his potential drug use. During that episode, the 31 year old allegedly tried to flee using a garden hose to slide down from the balcony.
Substance struggles continue to shadow the singer’s life. Liam, who had allegedly been sober for months, tragically relapsed into drug and alcohol use right before his untimely demise. The preliminary toxicology scan unveiled a mix of “alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants” in Liam’s system.
Detectives also noted that a look through Liam’s hotel suite revealed signs of “what appeared to be narcotics, alcohol, destroyed objects and furniture.” La Nacion and Clarin, reputable news sources, authenticated photos that claim to depict the location of Liam’s last moments.
