*Updated on October 17, 2024, at 3 p.m. (MT):
Liam Payne, a former member of One Direction, has died. He was 31 years old.
Payne's family has released a statement following the singer's death.
"Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul," the statement said. "We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time."
Members of One Direction—Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson—paid tribute to their bandmate in a joint statement:
"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. We will miss him terribly."
The bandmates concluded their statement to Payne directly. "We love you Liam," they wrote—signed, "Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry."
Payne died after he had "jumped from the balcony of his room" on the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aries, local authorities told The Associated Press.
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti told La Nación that Payne had suffered "serious injuries," which were untreatable once first responders arrived at the scene. Experts with the Forensic Medical Corps at the Judicial Morgue conducted the preliminary autopsy. A toxicology report is still pending.
According to reports, witnesses say this happened shortly after 5 p.m. in Buenos Aires and that Liam had been acting erratic in the hotel lobby earlier—he smashed his laptop and had to be carried back to his room. Police responded to an emergency call of an "aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
A spokesperson for the British Embassy in Argentina released a statement, saying, "We are supporting the family of Liam Payne who has died in Argentina and are in contact with the local authorities."
He was in Argentina attending his former bandmate Nial Horan's concert on October 2.
*This is an ongoing story and will be updated accordingly. Refresh for the latest!
