A fan holds a Liam Payne doll as she attends to pay tribute at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires (Image: AFP via Getty Images)For days, fans have been lining the streets outside a Buenos Aires hotel where Liam Payne fell to his death from a third-floor balcony. Pictures show hundreds of shocked fans gathering outside the hotel after police cordoned off the area on Tuesday, with forensic investigators in white protective suits and blue gloves seen entering and leaving. Fans were photographed lighting candles and leaving flowers at the side of the road in an impromptu vigil as they paid tribute to the music star. Liam’s death has devastated fans of the band, known affectionately as Directioners, who have described the singer as a “huge talent” and said his death is “truly devastating”. Kyra Parry, 20, who became a fan of One Direction in 2010 when she was eight years old, said Liam’s character stood out from the rest of the band. “I feel as though Liam was a huge part of this generation’s childhoods, so many people are extremely shocked and feel like a big part of their childhood has been lost,” the student from Stoke-on-Trent told the PA news agency.
Fans have lined the streets outside the hotel where Liam died
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“He was a huge talent and inspiration to many. He will be missed. I loved how each of the guys was so different and Liam had a major star quality. He had a lot of charisma and confidence within him. He seemed to be someone who was up for anything.” Ms Parry said One Direction was “a huge hit out of nowhere” adding, “Their faces were on everything and people became obsessed.” “They were a lot of girls’ first crushes and the first band they fell in love with,” she said.
Liam’s death has affected fans all over the globe
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Meanwhile, lifelong Directioner, Olivia Warburton, who is a journalist based in the West Midlands, said she reacted to Liam’s death as “a fan first and a journalist second”. “I found out about the news when I logged into work early this morning. It was a very strange feeling and it took me a minute to process what I was reading before having to report on it myself, with Liam being from Wolverhampton – a city I cover,” Ms Warburton told PA. Ms Warburton became a fan of the band when they rose to fame on The X Factor and said their Where We Are tour in 2014 was the first concert she ever attended. “I have followed One Direction since their X factor days ringing up to vote for them every week when it got to the live shows,” she said. “I was listening to their final album on my way home from work yesterday. This morning, it doesn’t feel the same hearing their music come on.” She said Liam’s music made “an impact” on fans.
Fans have comforted eachother
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“It was heartbreaking. It feels slightly silly saying that, considering I never met him or knew him personally, but he and his music made such an impact that this news was truly devastating,” she said. “I’m sure I echo the millions of One Direction fans across the world when I say I can’t believe it. My heart truly goes out to his family and everyone who knew him.” Liam formed boy band One Direction in 2010, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, after they individually auditioned for The X Factor. After becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the world, with five albums and four world tours, they went on indefinite hiatus in 2016. Liam who was born in Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album, LP1, in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid, Familiar and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnHarry StylesLiam PayneLouis TomlinsonNiall HoranZayn MalikOne DirectionThe X Factor
