Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmates have said they are “devastated” over the singer’s sudden death, aged 31, after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
Payne, who shot to fame after joining the pop group on reality TV contest The X Factor in 2010 along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, was described as a “kind, funny and brave soul” in a tribute from his surviving bandmates.
Ed Sheeran, who collaborated with Payne on a number of occasions, also shared a brief tribute on Instagram as he admitted he was “at a loss for words” and asked his followers to “be kind”.
Payne’s cause of death was revealed in a preliminary autopsy on Thursday 17 October. Photos taken by officials of his hotel room showed it in a state of disarray, with a smashed TV screen and debris scattered around the surfaces.
Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole’s relationship: Timeline from X Factor meeting to coparenting son Bear
Liam Payne has died aged 31, after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The One Direction singer was in a relationship with influencer Kate Cassidy at the time of his death, while ex-fiancée Maya Henry had issued a cease and desist last week alleging that the musician continued to contact her.
Prior to meeting Cassidy in October 2022, and Henry in 2019, Liam was in a relationship with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.
The pair share one seven-year-old son together, Bear.
We break down the timeline of the couple’s unconventional meeting and subsequent relationship below.
Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole’s relationship: From X Factor meeting to coparenting
Couple first met on the ‘X Factor’ in 2008 and share a seven-year-old son together
Liam Payne’s X Factor co-star hits out at Simon Cowell amid reports singer was recently dropped by label
Former X Factor contestant Katie Waissel, who appeared in the same series as Liam Payne and his One Direction bandmates, has hit out at show creator Simon Cowell following the singer’s death.
“This industry has treated talent like commodities, and the negligence of duty of care has once again led to a heart-wrenching loss,” writes Waissel.
It has also been reported that Payne was dropped by his record label in the months before his death, after a disappointing reception to his single, “Teardrops”.
Read the full story here:
Liam Payne’s X Factor co-star hits out at Simon Cowell
One Direction star and solo singer, who has died aged 31, was reportedly dealt a blow by his label after the release of his last single, ‘Teardrops’
Zayn Malik admits he and Liam Payne ‘butted heads’ in emotional tribute to late One Direction bandmate
“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f***s about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”
Zayn Malik admits he and Liam Payne ‘butted heads’ in emotional tribute to bandmate
‘I always secretly respected you for it,’ wrote Malik in his heatfelt message
Liam Payne’s ex speaks out after his death in Buenos Aires hotel
Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend Aliana Mawla has spoken out following the One Direction singer’s death aged 31.
The social media personality, who reportedly dated Payne after his breakup with ex-fiancée Maya Henry, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday (October 17), where she paid tribute to the pop star after he died Wednesday evening after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mawla shared a photo that appeared to show Payne at a concert, writing over the image: “I’m sorry this happened to you… will forever love and miss you.”
In another Instagram Story post, the “Strip That Down” singer’s hand appeared to be interlocked in Mawla’s, showing off his “L” and “P” tattoos on each of his hands, as her thumb was placed in between.
Full story:
Liam Payne’s ex speaks out after his death in Buenos Aires hotel
Payne was previously spotted with Mawla in May 2022 following his split from ex-fiancée Maya Henry
Why Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy left Argentina just before his death
Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy revealed she and the One Direction singer, who tragically passed away on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, weren’t supposed to be in Argentina for more than five days.
Two days before the singer’s death, Cassidy, 25, traveled back to her home in Miami, Florida, leaving Payne in Argentina. According to her, the couple was originally only planning to be in the country for five days, but their trip ended up being extended.
In the video blog of her trip back to the US, Cassidy said: “I was so ready to leave. Honestly, love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long. And we were supposed to be there for, like, five days. It turned into two weeks and I was just like ‘I need to go home.’”
Full story:
Why Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy left Argentina just before his death
Payne and Cassidy had been dating for two years
Niall Horan recalls last conversation with Liam Payne: ‘I didn’t know I was saying goodbye forever’
Niall Horan has shared a fresh tribute to his late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, reflecting on their recent meeting just two weeks ago.
The Irish singer, who rose to fame along with Payne and their bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik after competing on The X Factorin 2010, posted the statement to Instagram along with a sweet photo of them together.
“I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam,” Horan, 31, wrote. “It just doesn’t feel real.
“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and made everyone feel happy and secure.”
Full story:
Niall Horan recalls last conversation with ‘brother’ Liam Payne
Irish singer said he found himself reflecting on the joyful moments he shared with Payne over the years
Liam Payne cause of death revealed in preliminary autopsy
Liam Payne died of multiple traumatic injuries caused by falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, local police said on Thursday.
A preliminary autopsy indicated that Payne had suffered “internal and external” hemorrhages and multiple traumatic injuries, according to the report seen by multiple outlets. Officials said Payne’s plunge from the third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel was what caused his fatal injuries.
A toxicology report is still pending.
Full story:
Liam Payne cause of death revealed in preliminary autopsy
Singer died in fall from hotel balcony while staying in Buenos Aires
VIDEO: Liam Payne watches Niall Horan concert in Argentina days before death
Robbie Williams shares final exchange with Liam Payne after ‘very similar’ experience under spotlight
Robbie Williams has shared his thoughts on the pressures of being under the spotlight as he paid tribute to the late One Direction singer Liam Payne.
The musician died from multiple traumatic injuries caused by falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services responded to a hotel manager’s call about a guest “under the influence of alcohol and drugs” who could “do something that could put his life at risk”. He was 31.
Williams, who rose to fame in the Nineties with boyband Take That and went on to mentor One Direction on X Factor, shared his final interaction with Payne – an email exchange from June 2022 that sees Williams giving the singer advice and telling him he is “proud” of him.
In the email messages shared by Williams, Payne tells the “Angels” singer his support “means the world”.
“I’m nervous as hell about it but I won’t back out, you have my word, wish me luck,” Payne says, to which Williams responds: “F*** yeah... go get it... very proud of you. Massive x.”
Robbie Williams shares final exchange with Liam Payne: ‘Very proud of you’
‘I still had my demons at 31,’ wrote Take That singer
Liam Payne’s post-One Direction timeline: from podcast fall outs to fatherhood
One Direction’s split seemed inevitable, but the break-up of one of the most successful boybands of all time still made headlines around the world and devastated millions of fans.
Formed on reality TV show The X Factor in 2010, the five-piece comprised late singer Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Despite placing third in the contest, the band shot to international fame upon the release of their debut single, the pop-rock anthem “What Makes You Beautiful”.
For the next six years, One Direction experienced a level of fame not seen since Beatlemania: screaming, hysterical fans; paparazzi; intrusive tabloid stories. After the band split in 2016 following a final farewell tour, each of the five members pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success.
Somewhat surprisingly, Payne – who had long-harboured ambitions of being a singer like his idols, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Chris Brown – admitted in 2017 that he had doubts about going solo. “I was just going to go into songwriting and carry on and do that,” he told Billboard. “But then I was like, ‘You’ve been trying to do this since you were 14 years old. You would be ridiculously stupid to turn down the option to have a deal.’ Coming out of the band, we had some pretty good opportunities around us. I had to do something.”
Liam Payne’s post-One Direction timeline: from podcast fall outs to fatherhood
Singer was open about his experiences in the aftermath of the band’s split, as he pursued a solo career and had a son with former ‘X Factor’ judge, Cheryl Tweedy