Liam Payne’s family is ‘heartbroken’ after One Direction singer’s death at 31

Liam Payne’s family is “heartbroken” following the unexpected death of the One Direction band member at age 31.

Payne died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday night after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Palermo, PEOPLE has confirmed. Payne was still in Argentina after attending bandmate Niall Horan’s concert.

In a statement to multiple outlets, including the BBC and PA Media, the singer’s family addressed their sudden loss, writing, “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

The statement concluded, “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

The late singer is survived by his 7-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with ex Cheryl Cole.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to former members of One Direction, Cole, and his current girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.

In the wake of his death, tributes from fans and friends have been pouring in for the late singer. Among those who turned to social media with their reaction to the loss is Anne Twist, the mother of his former One Direction bandmate Harry Styles. 

“Just a boy … 💔,” Twist wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of a red broken-heart emoji.

Horan’s brother Greg Horan also paid tribute to Payne on social media, writing a lengthy statement in the wake of his loss.

“To say I’m heartbroken is an understatement,” he began. “You will be forever missed Liam. Words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys. My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers.”

Several X-Factor stars have also paid tribute to Payne, with host Dermot O’Leary sharing a black-and-white photo of himself and the singer, during their tenure on the show. 

 “The worst news,” he wrote on Instagram. “I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing. He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble. Sending love and prayers to his family. Dx.”

Horan, Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson were part of one of the biggest bands in the world with Payne after the five appeared on Britain’s The X Factor as solo artists, where they were combined into a group by judges Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell. Together, the band had over two dozen songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart throughout their career, including top hits “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life,” “Best Song Ever,” and “Perfect.” After five albums and four world tours, One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in early 2016, leading Payne and his fellow bandmates to venture out as solo artists.