Emily Kalberer
Contributing Writer
Trigger Warning: Mentions of drug use and suicide
ESU Students are left stunned after the death of former One Direction star, Liam Payne.
Payne was 31 when he died on Wednesday after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel Casasur in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to ABC News.
Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole, his parents Geoff and Karen Payne, and his sisters, Ruth and Nicola Payne.
The star’s shocking death has thrown One Direction fans everywhere into a state of grief, mourning and disbelief.
Payne’s former bandmates, friends, family and fans have since posted tributes sharing their memories of the late singer and songwriter.
“I was in complete shock, I just didn’t believe it was true. At first, I thought it was just a joke someone made. I am still in shock,” criminal justice major Victoria Lechowicz said.
Lechowicz, a senior, had seen One Direction in concert five times. She said, “Seeing how he interacted with his fans made him a living person to me, not just some celebrity. Their music gave me a safe space to just relax, and in a way, I really did feel personally affected by his death.”
Along with four other teens, Payne launched to fame after auditioning for the X Factor in 2010. He was 16 years old. Payne was placed into a group with fellow auditionees Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. This group finished in third place on the show.
The five teenagers later came to be known as One Direction and became a global sensation.
The band’s unforeseen success was a product of their unusual start, as well as their ability to make use of social media’s emerging popularity as they rose to fame.
One Direction took a hiatus in 2015 after Malik left in pursuit of other opportunities. The break was only supposed to last 18 months, but the band never reunited, leaving fans disappointed, and losing hope.
“I have been listening to One Direction since 2012 when I was just 10 years old. I was so upset I cried when I found out they were going on a break. I loved them so much, and I just knew it wouldn’t be the same seeing them separately.”
“The fact that they never got back together and the fact that even if they do it will never be the same five boys in the band just crushes me. I was hoping and waiting for so long to see a concert reunion of the five of them, and seeing all of their fans together listening to them again. Sadly, it’s just never going to happen.” Lechowicz stated.
As new reports continue to come out, more details surrounding Payne’s death are emerging.
Pictures released from TMZ showed mass destruction to Payne’s hotel room, including a smashed TV.
There were multiple candles, crumpled tin foil, lighters, alcohol and burned soda can tops. It has been revealed that Payne may have been not fully conscious at the time of his falling off the balcony.
TMZ had also released cropped photos of Payne’s deceased body. After being met with harsh backlash, they have removed the photos.
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