What is #LiamsLaw? Petition to safeguard artists’ mental health receives more than 24,000 signatures post Liam Payne's death 

On October 18, fans of late popstar Liam Payne began a petition on the Change.org website seeking the government to introduce a new law to safeguard the psychological and emotional well-being of music industry artists.

Titled, “Enact Legislation to Safeguard Artists' Mental Health in the Entertainment Industry,” it was started by Day Kv and has received 24,355 signatures at the time of writing this article, against its original goal of 25,000.

“In recent news of Liam Payne's tragic death as many others, the entertainment industry needs to be held accountable and be responsible for the welfare of their artists. We seek to implore lawmakers to create legislation safeguarding the mental health of artists within the industry,” part of the petition read.

It also used the hashtag #LiamsLaw suggesting that a law be introduced and named after Payne to safeguard other artists' mental and emotional well-being. The proposal has so far acquired more than 20,000 supporters.

---

Exploring #LiamsLaw and the petition in the aftermath of Liam Payne’s demise

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne passed away on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the aftermath of his demise, the Argentina National Prosecutor’s Office shared a lengthy statement with details of the autopsy, citing the cause of death as “polytrauma.”

“Everything indicates that the musician was alone with the fall occurred, and that he was going through some kind of breakdown as a result of substance abuse,” a part of the statement read.

The statement further continued that the position of Liam Payne’s body suggested that he “did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.”

Likewise, several witnesses including hotel employees recalled how the singer had spiraled before his death. Police received a 911 call from the staff seeking urgent aid for a guest who was causing trouble under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and was a potential danger to his own life.

Amid this revelation, fans of Liam Payne have called for an immediate change in legislation to secure artists in the entertainment industry. Especially concerning their mental health issues spanning out of pressures related to fame and success.

Across all social media platforms, the hashtag #LiamsLaw has gone viral which is now being used as part of a movement to bring about a change in the form of a law/ legislation named after him. A petition on Change.org was also launched last week using #LiamsLaw which was defined as:

“Such a law would necessitate regular mental health check-ups, adequate rest periods, and the presence of mental health professionals on-set, including any ongoing support during their career. It will ensure a healthier, safer, and more conducive working environment for artists to cultivate their talents reducing psychological distress.”

It further went on to read:

“This would also include early interventions to protect and minimize before it's too late. Furthermore, the increasing rate of musicians who die before the age of 35, is concerning. We need to act now!”

The petition also referenced Liam Payne’s death and claimed that the entertainment industry was not only known for its “glamor and stardom” but also for its “enormous pressure” on the mental well-being of artists, which led to issues such as “stress, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and even suicide.”

The description further claimed that research indicated that entertainers were twice or thrice “more likely to suffer from these issues compared to the general population.”

The petition wrapped up by calling the role of performers “invaluable” for not only the entertainment field but also the society and urged for their “protection and well-being.” It also pleaded with fans for their signatures to ensure the #LiamsLaw comes into effect and no other artist loses their life so tragically as Liam Payne and to raise mental health awareness and care for artists globally.

Notably, another similar petition has also been launched on Change.org, titled, “Help Protect People in the Public Eye - sign for ‘Liam's Law.’” It was started by a person named Chamali Samarasekera who explained how “Liam Payne’s death is a call to action.”

It further demanded a new law to be introduced and named after Payne to “protect children and adults in the public eye, especially those in the entertainment industry” and prevent “further tragedies and ensure the safety of individuals in the public eye.”

The second petition even laid down certain measures that can be taken such as “regular medication checks, stronger legal punishments, increased detection and prosecution of online harassment, tougher penalties for stalking and privacy breaches, support for touring challenges, and regular checks for entertainment companies.”

Liam Payne’s tragic passing at the age of 31 has thus sparked an online movement seeking justice for him as well as an introduction of a law to ensure that their mental health is safeguarded.