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One Direction's Liam Payne has passed away, after reportedly falling from a third-floor balcony on Wednesday, October 16. The 31-year-old British singer was allegedly found dead on the interior patio of the hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of the Argentine capital where he was staying. Police are reportedly still investigating the cause of the fall.
The former 1D singer leaves behind his only child, Bear Gray, who he shares with his ex-girlfriend, Cheryl Cole. Liam Payne and Cheryl reportedly started dating in early 2016, welcomed their son a year later, and split in 2018.
Earlier local reports mentioned that the authorities were notified about someone causing ruckus in the Palermo neighborhood. The capital police reportedly mentioned in a statement that they were called about an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol," per Reuters.
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The hotel manager also allegedly noted hearing a loud noise at the back of the hotel. When the authorities arrived, they reportedly found that the ex-One Direction singer had fallen over the balcony of his room.
Liam Payne and Cheryl's relationship explored
The British singer had a rumored fling with supermodel Naomi Campbell, an engagement with Maya Henry, and his latest relationship with Kate Cassidy. One of his most high-profile relationships was with fellow singer, Cheryl Cole. The Girls Aloud member is 10 years his senior.
They first met when Payne auditioned for the UK version of The X Factor in 2008, where Cheryl was one of the judges. However, that first audition was cut short after he was booted, although he would return to the competition in 2010.
They reunited over the years, with Cheryl nominating the British singer for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 and sharing a hug with him after the One Direction performance in The X Factor final in 2015.
By January 2016, Cheryl had filed to divorce her second husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, allegedly after months of separation. By February, she and Payne were in a relationship. They welcomed their baby, Bear Gray, in February 2017 but waited a while to share the news of his birth to the world.
In the photo he shared on Instagram in March of that year, Liam Payne can be seen snuggling Cheryl and his baby. He also shared being "completely in awe" of his then-girlfriend before adding that she "really made [his] dream come true."
The two reportedly broke up in July 2018, and while they were no longer together as a couple, they were amicable co-parents to Bear. About their split, Liam stated in July 2018 on X that they “still have so much love for each other as a family.”
In an interview with People in 2022, the former One Direction member said he spends time every week with Bear, and whenever they are together, Bear has "100 percent of [his] time." Liam Payne and Cheryl keep their son away from the limelight, and though the couple often post pictures of their son, his face is not shown.
Liam Payne was in a relationship with his on-and-off girlfriend Kate Cassidy at the time of his passing. They were reportedly together in Argentina, but Cassidy reportedly left days before the singer's death.
