Personally, it's more angry because they're talking about it not being an accident.
• Summary
• Companies
• Payne fell from third-floor hotel room balcony
• Hotel worker sought help for intoxicated guest
• Death leads to outpouring of grief
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Liam Payne, who shot to global fame with boy band One Direction, was found dead after he fell from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, triggering an outpouring of tributes from fans and music stars around the world.
As news emerged of the 31-year-old English singer's death, fans of one of the world's biggest-selling boy bands gathered outside the hotel in the Argentinian capital's leafy Palermo neighbourhood to sing his songs and celebrate his life.
Police said in a statement they had been called to the CasaSur hotel after being notified of an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol".
When they arrived, the hotel manager reported he had heard a loud noise from the inner courtyard and the police found that a man had fallen from the balcony of his room, the statement said.
In audio obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry, a worker can be heard asking for police help.
"When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone," the worker said, adding that the guest's life was at risk because the room had a balcony.
One Direction found global success after the band was formed on the British version of Simon Cowell's The X Factor talent show in 2010, bringing together Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
It went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 2016 before the band members pursued solo careers. Payne's last single was "Teardrop", released in March this year.
While details surrounding the circumstances of his death remained unclear, Payne had spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and using alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
One Direction fan Micaela Ibertis told Reuters at a vigil outside the hotel: "I feel like it's like a dream, like I'm going to sleep now and tomorrow it's all going to be a lie...I think it's going to take me a while to accept all this, it's very complicated."
Violeta Antier said she had come straight away after being told Payne had died. She had seen him recently at a Niall Horan concert. "He was there, I saw him," she said. "He was ok."
American singer Charlie Puth was among those expressing their grief.
Item 1 of 11 British Singer Liam Payne performs at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards at Wembley Arena in London, Britain, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo
[1/11]British Singer Liam Payne performs at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards at Wembley Arena in London, Britain, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
"I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me," he said on Instagram. "He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone."
Britain's Foreign Office said it was in contact with the "local authorities regarding reports of the death of a British man in Argentina".
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Payne auditioned for X Factor for a second time in 2010 at the age of 16. Cowell told Rolling Stone in a 2012 interview he'd recognised the singer's potentialwhen he first auditioned two years earlier.
"I always knew that with confidence he would be a valuable member of this band, so I had no hesitation in bringing him back," he said.
The band may have finished third in The X Factor that year but it went on to have more than 29 hits on Billboard's Hot 100 with six in the top 10, including "What Makes You Beautiful", "Story of My Life" and "Live While We're Young".
Payne's co-writing credits include "Story of My Life" and "Night Changes".
He teamed up with Rita Ora on the 2018 song "For You" and released his first studio album LP1 in 2019.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Payne's One Direction and solo career helped garner him a net worth of some $70 million.
Payne had a son named Bear with Girls Aloud singer and British TV personality Cheryl. She was a judge on The X Factor series featuring One Direction.
Last year, Payne published a video to fans on his YouTube channel in which he spoke about his family, making new art and performing again after having given up alcohol. He thanked supporters for sticking with him through difficult times.
Earlier on Wednesday, Payne posted on Snapchat about his trip in Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.
"It's a lovely day here in Argentina," he said in the video.
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