New details have emerged about the final hours of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who tragically died after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. The singer, 31, was reportedly involved in an intense argument with a mystery woman in the lobby of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel just hours before his death, with witnesses describing him as "wild" and agitated.
According to reports from guests at the hotel, including American tourist Michael Fleischmann, Payne was seen around 2 p.m. on the day of his death, engaged in a heated exchange with an unknown woman. "He seemed very upset, agitated, a little wild, walking around and pacing," Fleischmann said. Payne repeatedly mentioned his wealth during the argument, saying, "I'll give you $20,000 just because I can. I have $55 million and I like to help people." The conversation, which required the intervention of the hotel manager to translate, reportedly left the woman visibly uncomfortable.
The argument, which centered around money, seemed to escalate the tension in the lobby, with witnesses noting the singer's erratic behavior. Fleischmann's mother, Toni, who was also present, described a palpable sense of anxiety in the air, adding, "It just looked like she was extremely uncomfortable with him, and a little apprehensive." The Fleishmanns even shared an elevator with Payne before leaving the hotel.
Later that afternoon, Payne was seen laying on a sofa in the hotel lobby, working on his laptop, before moving toward the elevators again. The situation took a dire turn shortly after 5 p.m., when concerned hotel staff dialed 911, asking for urgent police assistance to deal with a guest who was "behaving erratically" and "destroying the entire room." Minutes later, police arrived at the hotel, but Payne had already fallen from the third-floor balcony into the hotel's inner courtyard.
Payne, who had attended his former bandmate Niall Horan's concert earlier that week, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police reports, a person had plunged from the third floor, prompting the authorities to request an ambulance at 5:07 p.m. Paramedics arrived four minutes later, but it was too late to save the singer.
Before his death, Payne reportedly invited two 25-year-old escorts to his hotel room. The escorts, who were called through an online service, were interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation into Payne's death. The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office concluded that Payne was alone at the time of his fall and was likely unconscious, based on the position of his body and the injuries he sustained. Hotel staff also reported finding the singer's room in disarray, with broken furniture, a smashed television, and drug paraphernalia scattered throughout.
Another guest at the hotel recounted overhearing Payne saying, "I used to be in a boy band-that's why I'm so f---ed up," just moments before his fatal fall. The singer, who had a well-documented history of struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, appeared to be battling inner demons in his final moments.
The tragic incident has led many to speculate whether the fall was accidental or intentional. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause, and the investigation is ongoing. Payne's girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had reportedly left Argentina two days before his death, allegedly frustrated with their prolonged stay in the country.
Tributes have poured in following Payne's death, with his former One Direction bandmates expressing their grief in a joint statement. Signed by Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles, the statement read, "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us."
Payne's sudden death has left a void in the music world, particularly among the millions of fans who followed his career from his early days on "The X Factor" to the height of One Direction's global success. The band, formed in 2010, became one of the biggest pop groups in the world, releasing multiple chart-topping albums and embarking on world tours before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
