Fans across the world are mourning the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who passed away at the age of 31 in Buenos Aires Wednesday, Oct. 16. According to CNN, Payne died after falling from the third floor of a hotel. He is survived by his 7 year old son, Bear.
Skyrocketing to fame at age 14 as a contestant on British competition TV show The X Factor and joining One Direction soon after, Payne quickly launched into pop culture stardom. A prolific lyricist, Payne is credited for co-writing over 30 of the band’s songs, including hits such as “History” and “Night Changes.” Upon One Direction’s indefinite hiatus in 2016, Payne started his solo music career, turning out radio hits such as “Strip That Down (feat. Quavo)” and “For You (With Rita Ora).”
Like many One Direction fans around the world, Darian Weiss (’26) said she is in a state of disbelief over Payne’s death. Upon hearing of Payne’s death, Weiss said she couldn’t tell if the news was a joke or reality.
“Payne’s death felt so random and so uncalled for that I almost didn’t believe it. I mean, he’s so young,” Weiss said. “One Direction is the boy band of our generation, and already seeing one of the members pass away is really hard to see. I mean, we all grew up with One Direction. Liam had an amazing solo career as well, so it’s really sad.”
Similar to Weiss, senior Rachel Michiel said, as a long-time One Direction fan, she is mourning Payne’s death. She expressed concern over Payne’s son, Bear, growing up without his father.
“He has a seven-year-old son. And think of the implications of that, of losing your dad — that is beyond the celebrity standpoint,” Michiel said. “He’s a human. He’s a parent, and his seven-year-old son doesn’t have a dad to grow up with … I started listening to One Direction, probably, when I was seven, and so to think of not having my parents, which are such fundamental pieces in my life is just devastating.”
Michiel said that losing a pop culture icon integral to Generation Z’s upbringing raises thoughts for her about mortality.
“When you think of someone who you thought was going to live to 80 or 90, [or] be grandparents, they have so many songs about growing old, [such as] ‘History,’ ‘Act My Age,’ … He died without gray hair or anything like that,” Michiel said. “He didn’t die peacefully. It brings a sense of mortality to fans and the way that they may live as well.”
Fans, friends and former musical collaborators of Payne expressed their condolences via social media. His former One Direction bandmates — Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik — shared individual statements on their personal Instagram accounts, as well as a joint statement on the official One Direction page.
Tomlinson, who had a particularly involved relationship with Payne, shared an Instagram post Thursday, Oct. 17, in grievance of losing his “brother.” In the post, he penned a message to Payne reminiscent of their shared memories and years spent growing up together.
“I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life, but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,” Tomlinson wrote. “I would have loved to share the stage with you again, but it wasn’t to be.”
