Liam Payne‘s father, Geoff Payne, has joined the fans paying tribute to the late singer outside the Argentinian hotel where he died earlier this week.
- READ MORE: Liam Payne 1993-2024: One Direction star who helped spark a pop phenomenon
On Wednesday night (October 16), it was announced that Payne had died at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Per The Guardian, the Argentinian prosecutor’s office revealed that Payne’s cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
Since his untimely death, fans have gathered outside the hotel to pay respects to Payne, singing One Direction songs and leaving written tributes, photos and friendship bracelets.
Last night (October 18), Geoff joined the crowds. He was seen reading messages and looking at the flowers placed outside the Casa Sur Hotel in memory of his son.
Per Sky News, Geoff thanked fans for being there and paused to pick up and kiss photos of Payne.
Crowds of fans light candles in Buenos Aires during a memorial in tribute to former One Direction singer Liam Payne after his sudden death at a hotel in Argentina.
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Geoff arrived in Argentina on Friday (October 18) to arrange for the return of his son’s body to the UK.
Payne’s family issued a statement earlier this week, saying: “We are heartbroken. 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.”
One Direction’s surviving members Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles shared a joint statement on Payne’s death, where they expressed their devastation, and that they would need time “to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
They also shared their own individual statements, with Styles writing: “I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.”
Across the music industry, others have paid respects to Payne, including Shawn Mendes, Maggie Rogers, Robbie Williams, Rita Ora, Liam Gallagher and Victoria Canal.
Yesterday Cheryl, Payne’s ex-partner and mother to his 7-year-old son Bear, spoke out about the “indescribably painful” loss and urged people to “give Liam the little dignity he has left”.
Kate Cassidy, Payne’s girlfriend at the time of his death, also spoke out yesterday, saying: “I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.”
Simon Cowell, who signed One Direction to his Syco label after their run on The X Factor in 2010, also wrote a tribute in which he said he “feels empty” and “heartbroken” by his death, and reflected on meeting Payne when he first auditioned for the show at the age of 14.
Meanwhile, Sharon Osbourne – who was also a judge on The X Factor, although not on the 2010 season – accused the music industry of “letting down” Liam Payne following his death.
“Liam, my heart aches,” she said. “We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them? You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner? Rest in peace my friend.”
It followed comments from Katie Waissel, who competed alongside One Direction on the talent show, calling for more “care and support for young artists”. Similarly, Rebecca Ferguson, who finished in second place in the same season of the show, paid tribute to Payne while also speaking out against the “exploitation and profiteering of young stars.”
