Liam Payne’s funeral is set to take place today (20 November), with his One Direction bandmates being said to attend.
The singer tragically fell to his death after falling from the third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buneos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October.
Payne’s funeral is being held today in the Home Counties in the south-east, and comes after three people have been charged in connection with the incident.
An investigation has been launched into his death by prosecutors with a post-mortem examination reporting he died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’.
Since the 31-year-old’s death, fans have held vigils across the globe in memory of the star.
With his family and friends in attendance and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy reported to be there, it is also expected several celebrities will be at his funeral.
Alongside Payne’s old One Direction bandmates (Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson), the music mogul who put them all together, Simon Cowell, is expected to be in attendance.
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Liam Payne died last month at the age of 31 (WireImage)
The band, who took a hiatus in 2015, released a joint statement following Payne’s death, which read: “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. We love you Liam.”
Cowell wrote on social media how he was ‘truly devastated’, ‘heartbroken’ and felt ’empty’ after hearing the news.
He added in his statement: “I always thought the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were. And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.”
It is believed the funeral today will be held in private, with fans on social media urging others not to show up.
The One Direction stars are expected to attend the funeral (FilmMagic)
The charges in connection to Payne’s death were announced on 7 November as one of those confirmed had been accompanying the singer in Argentina and is accused of ‘abandonment of a person followed by death’.
A hotel employee and a third person have also been charged with supplying drugs.
Liam Payne’s dad has been paying tribute to his late son outside of the hotel where he died.
Payne, 31, tragically fell from the third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday (16 October).
The singer died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ after his body was found in the internal hotel courtyard.
Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 (WireImage)
His father, Geoff Payne, has since travelled to Argentina to organise the repatriation of his son, according to Associated Press.
He was pictured walking in and out of the Casa Sur Hotel, joining fans in their tributes.
“Geoff paused occasionally to put on his glasses to read the notes written in English and picked up the pictures to kiss them,” Sky correspondent Martha Kelner said.
“He also thanked fans for being there.”
Over on social media, footage of Geoff getting out of his taxi and into the hotel shows fans ‘blocking’ paparazzi from taking photos.
Taking to X, one fan wrote: “Liam’s fans are fighting with the paparazzi to protect his privacy at this time, putting up their hands and backpacks so they can’t take pictures.”
Liam Payne’s father Geoff ‘thanked fans for being there’ (Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
“My heart goes out to Liam Payne’s family during this tragic time; it’s commendable that his fans are standing up against the paparazzi to protect his privacy and show their support,” a second added.
“Heartbreaking situation. It’s great to see fans rallying to protect his family’s privacy during this difficult time,” a third tweeted.
Now, Kelner also noted that Geoff ‘was not allowed into the exact room, which is still an active investigation scene, but he was shown a room with a similar layout’.
“He earlier visited the morgue to confirm the identity of his son and the prosecutor’s office to arrange for his repatriation to the UK,” she added.
Payne rose to fame on The X Factor alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, when One Direction was formed.
Simon Cowell broke his silence in a tribute shared on Instagram last night, saying he felt ‘truly devastated’.
“This is so difficult to put into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together. I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like?” he wrote.
“And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.
“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam.”
A major update into the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne has reportedly seen three people detained and one home raided.
Payne, 31, passed away after falling three floors from his balcony at CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires on 16 October.
Alberto Crescenti, the head of the state emergency medical system, later confirmed the singer had died at the scene and that his injuries were ‘incompatible with life’.
An autopsy report later conducted in the Argentinian capital revealed that Payne had suffered ‘internal and external haemorrhaging’ from the 40 metre fall.
(Getty Images)
Following the singer’s death an investigation was opened by police in Buenos Aires, with five people being questioned in connection to the incident back in October.
Days later the CasaSur hotel was raided by local police, with a government official telling AP that a police special investigations unit had went to the hotel and seized items such as computer hard drives and footage from hotel cameras on 23 October.
The latest update – initially reported by ABC News Worldwide and Argentinian outlet La Nacion – that three individuals had been detained, with ABC reporting that two of the individuals were workers from the CasaSur hotel, while La Nacion added the third individual was an Argentinian businessman who is said to be friend of Payne’s.
It’s yet to be confirmed if the three individuals detained are related to prior investigations, however.
According to PA, the public prosecutor’s office in Argentina has confirmed three people had been charged with ‘abandonment of a person followed by death’ and supply and facilitation of narcotics in connection with Payne’s death.
According to a translation of the statement, prosecutors said ‘exhaustive and meticulous measures were taken to clarify the circumstances’ around the former One Direction singer’s death.
Payne rose to fame as a member of One Direction (Getty Images)
“Based on the evidence gathered and after analysing the various bodies of proceedings and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case, prosecutor Andres Esteban Madrea formally charged three people, requesting their questioning and arrest in a 180-page ruling presented last Friday to Judge Bruniard,” the statement reads.
Prosecutors said that one of the accused was accompanying the singer on a daily basis in Argentina, while another was an employee at the hotel where Payne was staying. The third person allegedly supplied drugs.
The statement added that officials in Argentina had carried out a forensic analysis of Payne’s phone, including his call and message history, and also reviewed 800 hours of video footage from security cameras at the hotel and on nearby roads.
Nine raids have also been ordered on properties in Buenos Aires and the investigation continues with some of Payne’s devices still being analysed.
A statement from the public prosecutor’s office in Argentina added: “Illicit conduct was discovered from which three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.”
Local news outlet La Nacion reported that the 31-year-old was found dead after falling from the hotel’s third floor, citing emergency services in the region.
According to PA, Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel reported that Payne fell into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of the region’s capital.
(Getty Images)
Further details have since been confirmed about the singer’s death, with City ambulance service provider spokesman Alberto Crescenti releasing a statement which revealed Payne had fallen around 40 metres and suffered ‘severe injuries which were incompatible with life’.
“The alarm was raised at 5.04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur,” he said.
“At 5.11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.
“Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal. There was no possibility of resuscitating him.”
It is understood the star was in the city to attend a concert of his former bandmate Niall Horan.
Aged just 16 at the time, the singer rose to worldwide fame in 2008 alongside bandmates Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik in the group put together by Simon Cowell on The X Factor.
The band came third in the ITV show, going on to have hits including ‘Kiss You’, ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ and ‘Story of my Life’.
The group are one of the highest-selling boy bands in history, having sold more than 70 million records globally during their six years together.
(Getty Images)
In 2017, Payne debuted his solo career with his hit track ‘Strip That Down’ featuring Migos’ Quavo, going on to release his album LP1 two years later.
Earlier this year the singer released more new music in the form of his new single ‘Teardrops’.
According to Sky News, one of Payne’s social media accounts was active just an hour before his reported death, posting a selfie on Snapchat telling his fans about his plans for the day.
“Today, we ride. We’re going to ride some horses,” he wrote. “Think I’m going to play polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.
“It’s so hard to do, number one, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around… or mallet, I think it’s called if you’re in the know. It hurts a lot, it’s very tough to do.”
Crescenti has said that authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death and would be conducting an autopsy.
Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy has shared a tribute to the former One Direction singer, following his death at the age of 31 in Argentina.
Social media influencer Cassidy had travelled to the South American country with the singer in order to attend his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert, with the 25-year-old travelling back to the US just days before his tragic death.
Local authorities in the capital city of Buenos Aires confirmed the former One Direction member had passed away on 16 October after falling three floors from a balcony at his hotel.
A preliminary post-mortem would later reveal that Payne had died from ‘internal and external haemorrhaging’ from injuries sustained from the fall.
(Getty Images)
Taking to Instagram, Cassidy has now written a lengthy tribute, stating that she had loved Payne ‘unconditionally’ and asked her followers for space to grieve in private.
“Thank you for all the kind words and love that has been sent my way. I have been at a complete loss,” she wrote.
“Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.
“Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”
(Instagram/@kateecass)
Cassidy had begun dating Payne back in 2022, with the influencer previously joking that she had ‘manifested’ the relationship over a decade ago, when she had drawn the ‘Strip That Down’ singer on a lollystick at the age of 10.
She had last posted on social media two days before Payne’s death, explaining her decision to travel back to the states as she was missing home.
“Honestly, I love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long and we were supposed to be there for like five days and it turned into two weeks and I was just like I need to go home,” she said in a vlog shared on 14 October.
Cassidy’s statement follows tributes from Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Horan, as well as a post from X Factor boss and former 1D manager Simon Cowell.
Payne’s family have also issued a statement in the wake of his death, which reads: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
