RIP Liam Payne.
Former One Direction member Liam Payne passed away on Oct. 16, at the age of 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His death hit fans hard. Payne was a member of One Direction, one of the most notorious boy bands in the world. The group was a staple of many childhoods and their influence persisted through teens and adults.
The news was released a few hours after the star passed away. Immediately, fans started badgering the other former members of the band. Payne’s exes Cheryl Tweedy and Maya Henry were also targeted because they hadn’t yet posted about the incredibly shocking news.
Hounding celebrities to post on social media about the death of a close friend is ridiculous.
Photos from the singer’s hotel room in Argentina were also released, showing intense drug use and damaged items in the room. The speed at which these photos were released was rapid, not even allowing friends and family to process the news before it was plastered on the front page.
The popular media outlet, TMZ, was also on the scene of the accident, known for their aggressive photographers and quick speed with producing celebrity news. The outlet went a little too far this time, flash mobbing the hotel during the investigation and even taking and releasing photos of Payne’s dead body. This kind of behavior is insane and shows that the media and some fans do not respect the singer, even after his death.
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik later released a statement as a group about Payne’s passing on the One Direction Instagram account. This message came quickly after his death, and was likely a result of fans not respecting the time they needed to process the loss of their former band mate. Each member also released an individual statement soon after the collective one was released.
There were respectful fans and memorials for the singer as well.
Fans gathered in London and various other cities to put out flowers and remember a crucial part of their childhoods: Payne. One Direction hit big popularity in 2012/2013 after their time on the TV talent show, X Factor. Their music has stuck throughout the past decade, reminding Gen Z and Millennials of childhood memories.
The loss of Liam Payne is like a portion of childhood dying. The music he created resonated with millions of people, younger and older, making upbeat pop hits that can turn any bad mood good, even as their fans got older.
While Payne was seen as one of the more problematic members of One Direction, that doesn’t make his passing any less sad.
Another aspect that adds to the sadness in his passing is the loss of hope that One Direction will have a reunion. Fans continued to be hopeful for a return, but Payne’s death solidifies the band not making a comeback.
On Nov. 7, three people were arrested in connection to Payne’s death: a hotel employee, and two different people who he was seen out with in Buenos Aires. The hotel employee and one of the individuals are being charged with supplying narcotics to the singer, while the other person is being charged with abandoning an individual after death. Even before these arrests, fans on social media had speculated foul play was involved in his death.
Even now, one month after Payne’s death, it still doesn’t feel like reality.