Payne’s former school, St Peter’s Collegiate Academy in Wolverhampton, has posted this statement on its website:

We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our former student, Liam Payne. During his time at St Peter’s Collegiate Academy, Liam was not only well-liked by his peers and teachers but also recognised for his talents. He made a positive impact on our school community, and his contributions will be remembered.

Our thoughts are with Liam’s family and friends during this difficult time. We extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by his passing.

Former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton posted a tribute to Liam Payne on X.

Middleton described Payne as a “talented positive man with a good heart.”

Food bank charity Trussell has paid tribute to singer Liam Payne for his “compassion and kindness” in helping its work.

In March 2020, Payne helped provide more than 360,000 meals to people struggling as a result of the pandemic and had spoken about wanting to “play my part in finding a solution to ensure people have enough money to buy their own food - and end the need for food banks”.

Trussell chief executive Emma Revie said:

We are extremely saddened by the news of Liam Payne’s death.

Over the last four years, Liam was a generous supporter of Trussell and our community of food banks, not only funding the provision of more than 360,000 meals during Covid but also often joining us in calling for the solutions required to end the need for emergency food.

We greatly appreciate the compassion and kindness he always showed to people facing hunger and hardship. His death is a very tragic loss, and our thoughts are with his loved ones.”

West Bromwich Albion posted a picture of Payne, a “Baggies” fan.

Former The Xtra Factor presenter Konnie Huq said she told Liam Payne when Justin Bieber was on the show that he would “be as big as him one day” and Payne was “self-deprecating” but “absolutely did get to that level”.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I actually found out last night (about his death), but ‘just a boy’ is so right, because really all he’s known in his adult, and pre-adult life as well to some extent, is being in the limelight, and, you know, thrust into this position of global fame, not just sort of being known in your own country, but everywhere, essentially.”
She added: “But I do remember we had Justin Bieber on the show, and Liam sort of had the same hairstyle, bore a striking resemblance, and so we got him to come on the show. He was really embarrassed to meet Justin.
“And then afterwards, I was like ‘You will be as big as him one day’ and he was actually kind of self-deprecating, it was quite mature of Liam, of the boys, and, you know, he absolutely did get to that level, but it’s a lot for young people to take on.
“Your brain doesn’t actually fully mature till you’re 25 and if you think he’s, you know... over 10 years before that his journey had already started, and now, with social media and the amount of news channels, you can’t escape that sort of pressure and that level of fame, which I think makes it tougher.
“We’ve always had stories of sort of massive stars dying young, but I feel that the pressure in general is more in modern living.”

The Press Association reports:

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid, Familiar and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.
The song was one of two tracks that reached the top 10 in the UK official charts, alongside For You with Rita Ora from the film Fifty Shades Freed - which the duo performed at the Brit Awards in 2018.
Payne was in a high-profile relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl between 2016 and 2018 and the couple had a son, Bear, in 2017.
Payne first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 when he was 14, singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, with judge Simon Cowell telling him to return to the ITV talent show two years later.
In 2010, he impressed the judges with a rendition of Michael Buble’s Cry Me A River before being put with four other solo hopefuls at the boot camp stage of the competition - the group which later became One Direction.
In 2012, the boy band won their first Brit Award for best British single for their debut track What Makes You Beautiful, before picking up the Brit global success award a year later.
In 2014 and 2015 they also won best British video for Best Song Ever and You & I respectively.
After Malik left the band, the quartet won best artist video for Drag Me Down in 2016. They picked up the same award a year later for History.
In August 2023, Payne postponed his scheduled tour of South America after suffering a “serious kidney infection”.
He said the infection was something “I wouldn’t wish on anyone” and he had been instructed by doctors to “rest and recover”.
In October that year, he was banned from driving in the UK after admitting a speeding offence.
The singer was reportedly travelling at 43mph in a 30mph zone and was banned from driving for six months, as well as paying a fine.
In August this year, Payne was announced as a judge on a new Netflix show alongside former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and The Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger.
The stars were to judge attempts to create a band, looking at the contestants’ chemistry as they formed groupings in the musical competition series.

The Guardian would like to hear your memories of Liam Payne – whether you met him, or appreciated his work as a musician.

Wembley Stadium shared a picture on X of Payne performing:

The band McFly posted:

The Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with authorities in Argentina “regarding reports of the death of a British man”.

But a spokesman declined to comment any further, including on the identity of the man involved.

The PA news agency reports that Payne’s death comes after it was widely reported that his ex-fiancee, Maya Henry, had started legal proceedings, allegedly issuing a cease and desist letter for repeated contact.

The US model, who was engaged to Payne from August 2020 until he announced their separation in June 2021, claimed in a recent TikTok video that, since their break-up, the singer would “blow up my phone” from different numbers.

In the hours before his death, Payne reportedly posted a video on Snapchat saying: “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina.”

BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball posted on X “Devastating news”

The DJ and music producer Zedd, who featured alongside Payne on the 2017 song Get Low, posted a tribute to the star on X.

The BRIT awards posted: “We’re incredibly sad to learn of the tragic passing of Liam Payne. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family at this time.”

Anne Twist, mother of former One Direction bandmate Harry Styles , posted a broken-hearted emoji on Instagram, captioning it: “Just a boy.”

Fans gather outside the Buenos Aires hotel to sing the band’s songs and light candles.

US singer Charlie Puth, a co-writer on Payne’s 2017 song Bedroom Floor, said he was in “shock” after Payne’s death.
“Liam was always so kind to me,” he posted on Instagram, alongside a collection of photos of the pair working together.
“He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone... I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace.”

The Wanted star Max George said he met Payne while he was competing on The X Factor with One Direction, describing his death as “absolutely devastating news”.

He wrote on Instagram:

Over the last few years I had the pleasure of getting to know him personally and spent some treasured time with him.

Liam was absolutely wonderful in terms of support when Tom (Parker) fell ill, performing at the Royal Albert Hall with us for Stand Up To Cancer.

He supported me a lot personally after Tom passed. I will never forget that.

Payne attended the funeral of Parker, who died in March 2022 at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Singer Olly Murs, who starred on The X Factor a year before One Direction, said he was “lost for words”, describing Payne’s death as “devastating” on Instagram.

Murs wrote beside a picture of the pair:

We always had a good laugh when we saw each other, sometimes the catch ups were only short and sweet but when we did it was mostly about how annoyingly good his hair always looked, or our love for Becks, the old XF (X Factor) days and the tour we shared together,” Murs wrote beside a picture of the pair.

Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear losing a dad.

Here is a link to the Guardian’s story on Liam Payne’s death.

TV presenter Dermot O’Leary has recalled Liam Payne auditioning for The X Factor as a 14-year-old boy, as he paid tribute to the singer following his death.

O’Leary, who hosted The X Factor during both of Payne’s appearances, shared a photograph of the pair on stage, captioning the Instagram post: “The worst news”.

He wrote:

I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.

He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.