Liam Payne, the English singer-songwriter and former member of boyband One Direction, was a man who was loved by many — his parents, his bandmates, his son, his girlfriend and his fans. 

Having auditioned for the show “X-Factor” in 2010 at just 16 years old, he grew up in the spotlight. And so, while he was loved by a countless amount of people, he was disliked and judged by numerous, as well.

For years after One Direction ended, he received hate and judgment from the media. Disappointment regarding his solo career, scrutiny about his romantic relationships and backlash against him amidst controversial comments he made about former bandmates contributed to the negative perception of him. But that all changed on Oct. 16, 2024. 

One year ago, Payne died in Buenos Aires, Argentina while traveling to support his former bandmate Niall Horan. His stay on the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel marked the end of his life at just 31 years old.

His death, while sudden, caused fans to reflect on the possible build up to this heartbreaking event. In 2019, he had revealed to Men’s Health Australia that he struggled with alcoholism during his time in One Direction. In 2021, he opened up about hitting rock bottom and experiencing suicidal ideation in a podcast episode of The Diary of a CEO. 

“I was worried how far my rock bottom was going to be… And you would never have seen it. I’m very good at hiding it,” Payne said.

On the evening of his death, he had to be forced into his hotel room by the employees at the Casa Sur, who called emergency services and reported how he appeared to be under the influence and was engaging in destructive behavior. They left him in the room, and around 5 p.m., reported hearing a loud bang. When the police arrived at the scene, they found Payne on the ground, having fallen to his death from his balcony on the third floor.

The way Payne’s life ended was shocking, scary and tragic, and the world, but most importantly his family, may never know the reason behind. His autopsy revealed that he suffered multiple internal traumas, and his toxicology test revealed traces of substances in his body. But while prosecutors believed him to be unconscious when he fell, a judge simultaneously stated that he was trying to escape his hotel room.

Payne admitted to having spent many years struggling with loneliness. “That’s almost nearly killed me a couple of times,” He said in regards to his feelings of isolation on the 2019 Sky Show, and he died the same way. Despite being surrounded by millions of fans that loved him, he spent so much time away from his home and his family to pursue his career,  just to experience so much hate, negativity and receive a lack of appreciation for his musical talents. But his death conquered these feelings of isolation by bringing everyone together again — even the members of One Direction — to honor his legacy.

Social media was flooded with beautiful tributes for him. There was a surge in streams for not only the band’s music but also Payne’s solo work on Spotify and on the Billboard 100. He was honored through tributes at the 2025 BRIT Awards and The Grammy’s, and his family raised thousands of dollars to donate in his memory to the Children’s Cancer Centre in London. 

Even Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, former members of the band who were feuding for nearly a decade, are now once again collaborating, seemingly having put their differences aside upon realizing that life is just too short. Death puts things into perspective, and maybe the reason for all of this anger, especially regarding people’s opinions about Payne, were unjustified.

He is survived by his young son, Bear, and his former partner Kate Cassidy, who continues to make sure Liam’s legacy, and his life, is honored and respected through her heartfelt posts about him

“How can I forget someone who gave me so much to remember?” Payne asked in his song  “Remember” from his debut solo album, “LP1.” This is a question those who were close to him are going to continue to ask for the rest of their lives.

I know that fans of his, including myself, will remember him and his contributions to the music industry, and one of the most successful boybands of all time, forever. We’ll spend the anniversary of his death listening to his music, referencing his funny quotes and making a wish when the clock hits 4:44 — him and Cassidy’s angel numbers. Hopefully, after having passed away a year ago, Payne is finally at rest and knows that we will remember him for infinity.