On Oct. 16 singer Liam Payne passed away at the age of 31 after suffering a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Liam Payne was a prominent figure in the boy band One Direction. He sang and performed many concerts alongside members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan. This male vocal group released five hit albums and became one of the best-selling boy bands ever. 

Payne’s death impacted many fans and their sympathy was seen on various social media platforms and news reports. The One Direction members expressed their mourning in response in an Instagram post, saying they were “completely devastated” by the death of their longtime friend and well-loved bandmate. 

Freshman Eliza Bowman heard the news of Payne’s death at soccer practice. “I had just finished a rep in the drill, and there’s a senior on our team who also loves One Direction and she was talking about how Liam Payne died. I was so shocked. I originally thought she was joking […], but then she showed me the article. I think I just burst out crying, and I did not stop crying for the rest of practice,” Bowman said.

Many fans had previously theorized that the band would connect once more, but the death of Payne took a toll on that belief and the band members. Freshman Addison Behe was saddened to know that One Direction boy would no longer be able to reunite as a whole.

“It really makes me upset, because I always talked about it [One Direction reunion] with my friends who love One Direction. […] We would say, ‘When they get back together, we will be going to the concerts.’ We 100% thought it would happen, and now it’s just not going to. It honestly still doesn’t even feel real,” Behe said.

Bowman also believed in the band’s reunion and its importance for both Payne and One Direction supporters.

“Honestly, I think people are trying to process it. Not only was one of the band members gone, but it showed that it’s not possible for a reunion that everyone had been hoping for, and everyone was thinking that it was coming soon too,” Bowman said. “Like the fact that we’re never going to get another One Direction song unless they have stuff already recorded, is just really sad. And I think everyone knew One Direction broke up in 2016 but like, we all knew that they were going to do something in the future, and the fact that that’s not possible […] [It] will take a long time for fans to process and cope with.”

Payne was found with trace amounts of cocaine, alcohol, and prescribed medications in his body after his death according to his official autopsy report. Payne had a history of substance abuse, dating back to his days in One Direction. In connection to his death, three people, including an alleged drug dealer, have been arrested. 

Behe felt it was important for people to understand the impact drugs can have on your body and mind. “I think it also can open people’s eyes to substance abuse. Like as much as people will be clean for a while they can just slip up that can cause something like this,” Behe said. 

Payne’s death was a wake-up call for both fans of him and One Direction regarding the control drugs can have over the body and mind. The singer and songwriter impacted many lives and much is still unknown about the circumstances surrounding his death. In the meantime, it is important to acknowledge the legacy, talent, and art he brought to this world.