A devoted fan of Liam Payne has alleged that the ex-One Direction star was asked to vacate an Argentinian hotel just days before his untimely passing.
The late singer, 31, tragically died when he fell from a balcony on the third floor of a high-end boutique hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday October 16.
His death has sent ripples of grief worldwide, with fans and loved ones sharing poignant tributes. In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, Liam had been seen at former bandmate Niall Horan’s gig, where he was captured on video singing and dancing in a box at the venue, the Mirror reports.
This footage from October 2 went viral, and one admirer has spoken out about their encounters with him during his stay in Argentina. Talking to PEOPLE, a fan named Noelia recounted how they stumbled upon the celebrity by chance and snapped pictures together.
They said: “He talked to us, hugged us, and even made jokes” and noted that he appeared to be having a great time at Niall’s show, insisting there was “nothing strange or unusual about his behaviour”.
Yet, following another meeting at a hotel with more fans, they claimed that Liam had been asked to leave due to the disruption caused by the persistent throngs of fans which were “bothering other guests”.
Subsequently heading to another spot, believed to be a mate’s place, Noelia mentions that he continued to oblige fans who were waiting outside with photo opportunities. They asserted that Liam was “was always open to it, full of love”.
Following the tragic loss of Liam, his One Direction bandmates – Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles – shared a heartfelt joint statement expressing their grief.
The message, posted on Instagram, read: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Personal tributes from bandmates Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles followed, including a touching promise from Louis to Liam’s son, Bear.
In his emotional post, Louis pledged: “I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.”
He also confessed that he considered Liam as “the most vital part of One Direction” and revealed they had talked about creating new music together in the future.
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