Fans Hold Memorials for Liam Payne Around the World

Fans of Liam Payne in Milwaukee at the North Point Lighthouse are holding memorials to honor the star after he fell to his death on Oct. 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires at a hotel.

“I set up the memorial because never knowing or meeting Liam personally, grieving was hard and confusing,” Kameron Jones, creator of the Milwaukee memorial for Payne located at the North Point Lighthouse, said. “Having a space where fans could go, pay their respects and grieve was so important. I will be eternally grateful for Liam and the work he did with One Direction”. 

London, Paris, Glasgow, Sydney, and New York City are just some cities where hundreds of fans have come together to mourn the star, leaving pictures, candles, letters, and other memorabilia to remember the star. Some have posted videos of the memorials on various social media platforms that show mourners crying and singing songs of Payne.

Payne, 31, fell to his death from his third story balcony of his hotel room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024. He was in Argentina to see his former band member, Niall Horan, concert. ABC news is reporting that sources are telling them numerous drugs including, cocaine, crack, and “pink cocaine” were found in the singer’s system during a preliminary autopsy.

ABC news also reports hotel staff called authorities to send someone to help minutes before Payne fell to his death because they were worried, he might hurt himself due to his erratic behavior. When the authorities arrived at the hotel, Payne was already dead.

As soon as the news of his death spread, crowds of fans gathered around the hotel. Fans later created a memorial outside of the hotel, which Payne’s father visited when he arrived at the hotel after the star’s death.

Along with fans, tributes from celebrities have been pouring in since the star’s death, including his band members from One Direction.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” One Direction said in a joint statement on their Instagram page. “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 deeply. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever”.

At the age of 16, Liam Payne rose to fame during his time in One Direction, a band put together on X-Factor in 2010. Although One Direction did not win on X-Factor, they quickly gained international fandom and were soon touring all around the world and selling out some of the biggest stadiums.

After One Direction announced they were taking a break in 2016, Payne decided to try out a solo career. During the years leading up to his death, Payne candidly opened up about his mental health struggles and substance abuse, becoming an advocate.

Katie Waissel, a friend of Payne’s during their journey on the X-Factor, shared a statement on X remembering Liam but also calling for action in the music industry for their treatment towards young artists.

“Those are those who had a responsibility to provide the care and support necessary for the well-being of young artists, but too often, the focus remained on profits rather than the people,” Waissel states. “This industry has treated talent like commodities, and the negligence of duty of care has once again led to a heart-wrenching loss…. Contracts, whether they are for television shows or record deals, come with a legal and moral duty of care that must be upheld”.

After hearing this statement, many fans are calling for a change in the industry to put artists’ emotional and physical well-being before profits. Payne had previously shared how he was treated in One Direction had contributed to the start of his addictions which ultimately contributed to his death.