The sudden death of former One Direction member Liam Payne shocked the entertainment world, leaving fellow stars devastated, including an artist he once collaborated with on a major project.
Tributes from fellow stars continue to pour in as the entertainment world mourns the loss of Liam Payne, who tragically died at 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.
Music producer Zedd was heartbroken and shared his grief on X (formerly Twitter) even though he couldn’t believe the news.
TV personality and DJ Paris Hilton also expressed sadness as she ended her tweet with “RIP my friendđ„ș.”
More musicians honored Payne with heartfelt condolences. Rapper Flavor Flav kept his message short but heartfelt acknowledging that the musician was too young to die.
British DJ and songwriter Jonas Blue also said farewell on the same platform as he posted a picture of himself and Payne.
Anne Twist, Harry Styles’ mother, reacted to Payne’s death with a heartbroken emoji on a black background on Instagram. In her caption, she wrote, “Just a boy ⊠đ.”
Singer-songwriter Charlie Puth shared his heartbreak on his Instagram (IG) Story as he reminisced about the kind of person Payne was to him.
In another IG Story, an upset Puth shared an old photo of him and Payne smiling at each other.
Just weeks before his passing, the late English musician supported Niall Horan by attending the Irish singer and songwriter’s concert on October 3.
Payne was excited to go to the concert and shared a Snapchat photo of Horan performing, captured from the large screen.
In another picture he shared, he captured the audience with their phones held up and the purple-lit stage as he was proud of his friend.
He also shared a backstage photo with Horan, where Payne wore a dark-colored jacket over a light-colored t-shirt while his famous pal sported a striped shirt. Both looked in good spirits.
Before attending Horan’s concert, Payne had celebrated his 31st birthday on August 29. He wrote about his simple wish for the day in a post as he walked alone on the street in a gray hoodie.
While tributes continue to pour in, authorities are still investigating the circumstances of Payne’s tragic death. According to TMZ, Payne fell from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
Earlier that day, hotel staff called emergency services after he was reportedly acting erratically in the lobby, smashing a laptop and needing to be carried back to his room.
Alberto Crescenti, the director of Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Services, told ABC News that emergency services arrived at 5:11 p.m., just a few minutes after the hotel’s call. Unfortunately, there was no possibility of saving Payne, whose identity was only confirmed after he was pronounced dead.
Crescenti added that Payne’s body was found in the hotel’s inner courtyard. He further explained to the local media outlet TN that the singer fell from a height of 13 to 14 meters (42 to 45 feet) and described his injuries as “very serious” and “incompatible with life.”
Before the incident, Payne traveled to Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, for a vacation besides attending Horan’s concert. However, his girlfriend reportedly left on October 14, while Payne remained behind.
With his recent death, Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole. The couple confirmed they were expecting their first child in November 2016, with Bear born in 2017.
In a 2018 interview, Payne discussed the joys and challenges of fatherhood. He said, “I always wanted to be a young dad, but I didn’t really expect that I’d ever be in this place.”
Payne also humorously referred to himself as “Dada Montana” as he balanced his music career with being a parent. Before becoming a dad, he gained fame at 16 when he joined the One Direction boy band.
The group was launched on “The X Factor,” alongside Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. Payne played a key role in their global success until the band disbanded in 2015.
The entertainment industry continues to mourn the loss of a beloved artist, with fellow stars remembering his talent and kindness. Our prayers go out to his family and all the fans who loved him.
I Paid $2,000 for a Group Trip RentalâHereâs How I Got My Revenge When No One Paid Me Back
Excitement for the weekend trip quickly turned to frustration when Sarahâs friends didnât pay their part of the $2,000 cabin rental. But what they didnât know was that Sarah had a plan to make sure they didnât get away with it.
Each year, my friends and I plan a girlsâ weekend trip. We take turns organizing, and this year was my turn! I was thrilled to find the perfect place: a cute cabin right by a beautiful, sparkling lake.
Everyone was excited and loved the photos I sent. We couldnât wait!
The place looked like it came straight out of a magazine. It had a cozy cabin with a fireplace, beautiful views of the lake, and even a hot tub.
The total cost was $2,000 for the three-night stay, which came out to just $250 each for our group of eight.
âI went ahead and booked the cabin, so I paid the full amount,â I told my friends. âTo keep it simple, Iâd appreciate it if you could all pay me back before the trip. Does that work for everyone?â
âSounds perfect, Sarah!â Mary was the first to speak up. âThanks for handling that.â
âAbsolutely, no problem at all,â Ella added.
âGreat, that works for me too!â said Brittany.
One by one, everyone around the table agreed.
âYep, sounds good.â
âNo worries, I can do that.â
Everyone promised to pay their share before the trip started. It seemed like everything was set and would go smoothly.
Easy, right?
Wrong.
As the trip got closer, the âeasy peasyâ quickly became oh-so-frustrating.
First, it was Mary. âHey Sarah,â she said cheerfully, âmy car needs new brakes, so I might be a little late on my payment. Iâll get it to you next week.â
A week later, Brittany spoke up. âUgh, student loans are killing me this month. Can I hold off until next payday?â
âI just need to wait until my next paycheck,â Melissa added.
Weeks went by, and every time I reminded them to pay me back, they came up with more excuses.
Each excuse was different, and none of them overlapped. It started to feel like they were all in on this together.
Then came the silence. Nothing. No texts, no calls, not a word from Ella, Dana, or even dependable Lisa.
By the week before the trip, I was out $2,000 and felt completely taken advantage of.
The same people I called my âfriendsâ had quietly refused to pay me back. The people I trusted the most seemed to have teamed up against me.
Why were they doing this?
Had I done something wrong? Or were they just testing how Iâd handle such a tough situation? I didnât know for sure, but it was making me really angry.
I knew I had to take action, something bold to show them I wasnât going to be a pushover.
So, I decided it was time to teach them a lesson they wouldnât forget. Iâm not usually one for confrontation, but this situation was beyond ridiculous.
The night before the trip, I took a deep breath, picked up my phone, and started the first step of my plan.
I sent a group text, full of fake excitement: âCanât wait to see you all at the cabin tomorrow! Itâs going to be the perfect weekend getaway!â
Little did they know, I had a sneaky plan in mind.
The next morning, I woke up extra early and jumped out of bed. I quickly got dressed and rushed out the door, ready to turn the cabin into our own special retreat.
At the grocery store, I pushed my cart down the aisles, gathering everything I needed.
A giddy smile spread across my face as I filled the cart with fresh fruit, cheese, and enough snacks to feed an army. I even picked out the best wine and juices. I wanted to make sure my friends would be well-fed and comfortable.
After paying for all the snacks and drinks, I got back in my car and drove to the cabin. It was even more stunning in person, with sunlight sparkling on the lake like a million diamonds.
I stocked the fridge with everything I had bought, preparing for the weekend.
I even set up a bonfire for that night, complete with cozy blankets and marshmallows.
The place looked perfect. I knew my friends would have the time of their lives here.
But hereâs the catch: I took the keys and the garage door opener with me when I left for an âerrand.â
Before locking up, I texted my friends, saying I had an urgent task and would be back by the time they arrived. They trusted me, just like I trusted them to pay me back.
But they broke my trust, and now, so did I.
If they wanted to enjoy the weekend at the cabin, they had to follow my rules. They needed to earn their getaway.
I wasnât going to let them have a good time after they ignored my texts and calls.
By lunchtime, my phone started blowing up with frantic messages and calls from my friends.
âHey, Sarah, weâre at the cabin, but the doors are locked!â Ella said.
âDid you forget something?â Mary asked.
I stayed calm and replied with a simple, âOh no! So sorry, guys. I must have left the keys at home. But hey, the good news is Iâm on my way back now!â
Was I really on my way back? No!
I was sitting at a nearby cafe, sipping my favorite iced latte. I enjoyed reading their messages as they arrived at the cabin one after another.
After I sent that last message, the number of their texts started to drop. They felt relieved that I was on my way back, but the truth was very different.
As their brief relief faded, they started calling and texting me again. This time, their messages were much more desperate. Some of my friends were angry, while others were trying hard not to lose their cool.
âHow can you be so forgetful, Sarah?â Lisa asked.
âI canât believe youâre making us wait like this!â Dana said. âI thought this was supposed to be a fun trip.â
Finally, I decided it was time to drop the bomb.
I sent a calm message: âLook, Iâll be happy to come back and let you all in, but only once everyone has sent over their share of the rental cost.â
Silence followed.
Then, a flurry of activity.
It seemed that the idea of a fun weekend getaway suddenly mattered more than car troubles, student loans, and all the other excuses they had come up with.
My phone buzzed with Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle notifications as the payments started coming in.
Within an hour, every penny was accounted for.
âYou guys could have done this earlier!â I thought to myself as I grabbed the keys and headed back to the cabin.
Their faces lit up when they saw my car. Some walked toward me, while others went to the door.
âSarah! Finally!â Mary exclaimed, relief clear in her voice.
I stepped out of the car, keys in hand. âOh, so now Iâm âfinallyâ here? How convenient,â I said, my voice full of sarcasm.
The group fell silent, and guilt spread across their faces.
âLook, Iâm sorry,â Brittany began. âBut you have to understand, I reallyââ
I cut her off. âNo, Brittany. You all made excuses. I trusted you, and you took advantage of that.â
Lisa stepped forward, trying to mediate. âSarah, we messed up. But canât we just move on and enjoy the weekend?â
âEnjoy the weekend?â I scoffed. âAfter you all made me feel like a fool? After I had to practically blackmail you to get my money back?â
âWe didnât mean to hurt you,â Ella said softly. âWe just didnât realizeââ
âDidnât realize what? That $2,000 is a lot of money? That friendships are built on trust and respect?â
A tense silence fell over the group. For a moment, I worried that confronting them was a bad idea. I thought they might say they didnât want to be there anymore.
I stood my ground despite the fear, letting the weight of my words sink in.
Finally, Mary broke the silence and wrapped me in a big hug.
âSarah, Iâm so sorry about the car thing. You were totally right to be mad.â
Brittany added, âYeah, me too. Iâm sorry. Weâre all sorry.â
They all finally understood what they had done.
I took a deep breath and looked at each of them. âIâm glad you see it now. But remember, respect is a two-way street.â
We might not be planning any luxury cabin trips anytime soon, but at least weâll do it with a new sense of understanding and responsibility.
This whole experience definitely made for a memorable story, even if it wasnât the relaxing weekend I had planned.
But hey, sometimes the best lessons come wrapped in a little frustration and a lot of determination.
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