Liam Payne’s final moments: A witness recounts disturbing behavior before his death

Liam Payne, the 31-year-old former One Direction star, tragically fell to his death from a 45-foot height at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, October 16, sparking a global outpouring of grief. Hours before his fatal fall, witnesses have come forward with unsettling accounts of his behavior, adding a chilling layer to the tragic event.

Michael Fleischmann, a hotel guest, recalled seeing Payne just three hours before his death, describing him as “a little wild” while arguing with an unidentified woman about money in the hotel lobby. Payne reportedly repeated, “I’ll give you $20,000 dollars just because I can. I have $55 million and I like to help people.” According to Fleischmann, Payne appeared agitated and upset, with the hotel manager attempting to calm him down by translating the woman’s words from Spanish. Fleischmann’s mother, who was present, added that the woman seemed apprehensive and uncomfortable during the interaction.

Another guest, identified as Rebecca (not her real name), shared that Payne exhibited “weird and disturbing behavior” shortly before his death. She recounted that Payne, who seemed desperate for attention, smashed his laptop on the floor after becoming visibly upset. “I used to be in a boy band. That’s why I’m so f**ked up,” Payne reportedly confessed to Rebecca, minutes before his fatal fall.

Rebecca also mentioned witnessing Payne pretending to choke a young woman in an elevator and observed him behaving erratically, flinging his laptop and pacing around the lobby. According to Rebecca, the hotel staff appeared nervous, with one calling security in response to Payne’s disruptive behavior. Payne’s companion later apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, he just gets so high sometimes.”

Photographs published by Argentinian press from Payne’s hotel room confirmed troubling signs of substance use, with aluminum foil, white powder, and a smashed TV among the items found. The local prosecutor’s office is investigating Payne’s final hours, including interviewing two women who were with him the night before he died. Although no foul play is suspected, the investigation is ongoing to understand the events leading up to Payne’s tragic death.

Payne’s fall occurred around 5:00 p.m., with hotel staff raising the alarm shortly afterward. He was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple injuries, which caused severe internal and external bleeding.