Harry Styles’ mother leads tributes to Liam Payne

Singer, 31, fell to his death from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

The mother of Harry Styles has led tributes to Liam Payne after the singer died aged 31.
Payne, who rose to fame as part of the music group One Direction, fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.
Following the incident, Harry Styles’s mother, Anne Twist, posted a broken-hearted emoji on Instagram, alongside the caption: “Just a boy.”
A post shared by Anne Twist (@annetwist)
It was one of many tributes to Payne, who was pronounced dead at 5.11pm (9.11pm UK) after his body was discovered on the patio within the grounds of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
On X, Rylan Clark, who was also a X Factor contestant, said the death was “so tragic” , while Dermot O’Leary, who presented the show, called the incident “the worst news”.
Extremely sad news. V tragic and so young. RIP Liam x
A post shared by Dermot O’Leary (@dermotoleary)
Singer Olly Murs, who starred on X Factor a year before One Direction, said he was “lost for words”, calling Payne’s death “devastating” in an Instagram.
Oasis star Liam Gallagher added to the tributes and wrote on X: “Life is precious kids and you only get to do it once go easy.”
Fellow former X Factor contestants Jedward wrote: 
Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear ❤️ and all the One direction Family RIP @LiamPayne
Police were reportedly already at the hotel where Payne was staying following reports of an aggressive man who was thought to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It is unclear if Payne fell or jumped to his death.
One Direction fans gathered outside the hotel to pay tribute after police cordoned off the area, with many leaving flowers and lighting candles.
Further tributes to the singer included one from his former bandmate, Zayn Malik’s sister Waliyha who shared a picture of herself with Payne and wrote on X: “I can’t believe it, I honestly have no words for this sad moment … I really can’t believe it.”
Paris Hilton said it was “so upsetting” as she sent her “love and condolences” to his family and friends.
MTV, the television channel, said in a statement: “We’re deeply saddened to learn of Liam Payne’s tragic passing today. During this difficult time, our hearts remain with his family, loved one, and fans.”
The Boyband Backstreet Boys added to the tributes and said: “Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat.”
The Wanted star Max George, who met Payne while he was competing on X Factor with One Direction, described his death as “absolutely devastating news”.
US singer Charlie Puth, a co-writer on Payne’s 2017 song Bedroom Floor, said he was in “shock” after Payne’s death, adding: “He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone… I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace.”
DJ and music producer Zedd, who featured alongside Payne on the 2017 song Get Low, called the incident “absolutely heartbreaking”.
Payne is believed to have been on holiday in Argentina with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, an online influencer who he had been dating since October 2022.
In the days before his death, he had attended a concert by one of his former bandmates Niall Horan at Buenos Aires’s Movistar Arena on Oct 2.
One Direction found success on the back of The X Factor in 2010 and had a number of worldwide hits before splitting in 2016.
Payne had appeared to struggle with the fame and success the band saw on the back of the X Factor. 
He previously spoke about being addicted to “booze and pills” and his battles with mental health. He and his bandmates Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik were all teenagers at the time.
He dated the former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, who at 41 was ten years his senior, between 2016 and 2018 and the couple had a child together that they named Bear, now aged seven.
His subsequent engagement to the model Maya Henry ended after ten months.