Anne Twist, the mother of former One Direction star Harry Styles, has waded into the tributes that have flooded in for singer Liam Payne.
The singer, who formed the band with Twist’s son Styles and bandmates Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, died after falling from the third floor of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, police said.
The circumstances that led up to Payne’s death remain unknown as investigations are ongoing.
Police in Buenos Aires say that responders first arrived at the hotel in response to reports “of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.
Alberto Crescenti, the city’s ambulance service provider spokesman said Payne suffered “severe injuries which were incompatible with life” and that he was “certified dead” at the scene.
Tributes from far and wide have since flooded in, including former X Factor stars Cher Lloyd and Katie Waissel, and while none of the band members have issued public statements, Twist did so in the early hours of Thursday.
One Direction shot to fame on Simon Cowell’s The X Factor
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On Instagram, Styles’ mum simply shared a photo of the ‘heartbroken’ emoji with the accompanying caption: “Just a boy…”
Twist’s followers echoed the sentiment, with one replying: “He had a huge heart. What a loss for those who knew and loved him.”
A second similarly weighed in: “I am in total shock. My condolences to your family and also to his family and friends,” followed by a love-heart emoji.
Elsewhere, the aforementioned Lloyd said on Facebook: “From being on the show together, visiting each others homes while filming, going on tour together and watching you achieve your dreams.
“I’ll cherish the memories made and the laughs we had. My thoughts are with your family and friends, with everyone who loves you.
“My heart is breaking for your Son Bear. Rest in peace Liam.”
Cowell’s record company Syco signed One Direction and Waissel, as well as several other acts from the ITV show, but the latter’s relationship with the business ended sourly – even resulting in plans for her to sue Syco for an alleged breach of duty of care.
She penned on X: “My heart is completely torn to shreds right now, I am at an absolute loss for words.
“If Simon Cowell dare put a statement out on the heart wrenching, tragic loss of my dear and darling friend Liam, he would be a fool. We all know the truth… and I’ll be sure it all comes out. #justiceforliam.” (sic)
Payne had been visiting Argentina with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy to watch his former bandmate Horan perform in the South American city of Buenos Aires.
Cassidy had left the singer in the Argentinian capital a few days before his death but she featured in a series of social media posts shared by Payne just hours before Crescenti and police found his body.
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Liam Payne reportedly fell from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in ArgentinaPA
Crescenti told the media after Payne’s body was discovered: “The alarm was raised at 5:04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.
“At 5:11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.
“Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal.
“There was no possibility of resuscitating him.”