The former star of a popular boy band reportedly fell from a hotel building and died, leaving his family and friends devastated.

According to the New York Post, former One Direction star Liam Payne, 31, was pronounced dead after reportedly falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina.

Reports regarding how he fell from the balcony were not confirmed at the time of publication, but some reports indicated that Payne was acting "erratic," causing some to believe it could have been intentional.

Before he fell from the hotel balcony, Payne had reportedly smashed his laptop in the hotel lobby and was then carried to his room.

What happened?

Fans were immediately shocked after learning about his fall, with many of them showing up to the hotel area with phones in hand.

The Post noted:

Photos obtained by The Post showed police officers and a forensics team outside of the hotel. After word got out about Payne’s death, fans swarmed the scene with their phones in the air.

The singer’s body was removed from the hotel and loaded into an ambulance that drove off with a police escort.

Reports indicated Payne had arrived in Argentina earlier in the month with Kate Cassidy, his girlfriend, as a former bandmate from One Direction was playing a show in the South American country.

Leading up to his fatal fall, Payne had posted a number of photos and texts on social media indicating his happiness and writing that he was having a great time in Argentina with his girlfriend.

The Post added:

Payne got his big break when he auditioned for “The X Factor” for the second time in 2010 at 16 after being cut in 2008. That’s when One Direction — consisting of members Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles — was born.

His band was one of the most successful boy bands on the music scene, selling tens of millions of records worldwide.

Tributes pour in

Given his fame and stardom, tributes and condolences regarding Payne's death poured in across social media.

"We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne. He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him," The X Factor wrote on its X account.

We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne.

He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world.

Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him. pic.twitter.com/wOXUTKPUiR

— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) October 17, 2024

Another X user wrote, "Liam Payne's family is handling this unimaginable loss with grace. It's important to respect their request for privacy as they navigate this painful period. May they find comfort in each other and the love of those around them."