Liam Payne's Associate Speaks Out: Close Friends Fought Hard to Aid Singer in His Struggles with Sobriety
Revamped Recount:
Roger Nores, a pal of Liam Payne, who was among the last to see the late One Direction heartthrob before his untimely demise, believes it was a tragic chain of events that led to Payne's fatal fall.
In October, Payne plummeted to his death from the third story of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as reported by CNN. He was just 31.
Initially, five individuals faced charges in connection with Payne's tragic end, as per local prosecutors. Among those were Nores, and two others who've since had their charges dropped. Notably, a hotel staff member and a local waiter were detained over cocaine-related charges during Payne's hotel stay.
Speaking candidly to CNN en Español's Cecilia Dominguez in a recent interview, Nores revealed that when he left Payne approximately an hour before the incident, the singer seemed fine. "He was being his usual self, like Liam," Nores remarked.
Still, Nores never anticipated the upsetting turn of events that followed. "It was quite a surprise," he said.
Nores and Payne embarked on a personal trip to Buenos Aires together, with the goal of watching Niall Horan's concert.
"Liam was just a vibrant guy who loved life, enjoyed traveling, and meeting new people. Honestly, he was in high spirits," Nores said, adding that there was no indication Payne was either sad or depressed.
Along with Payne's partner, Kate Cassidy, the friends spent time together participating in typical activities such as bowling and movie nights. Payne managed to stay sober throughout the trip, according to Nores. Cassidy left Buenos Aires before the unfortunate incident occurred.
Before his tragic demise, someone provided Payne with drugs, Nores shared. It was later discovered that the singer had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death, according to Argentinian prosecutors.
"I don't believe the drugs were the cause of his death," Nores asserted. "I think it was simply a horrific accident."
Nores and Payne became close friends in 2020. Now, Nores is attempting to come to terms with Payne's passing, whom he describes as "one of the best friends I've ever had in my life."
Ongoing Probe
An investigation into Payne's death was initiated in October. Initial suspicions of negligent homicide led to the dismissal of charges against Nores, the hotel's manager, and the head of reception, according to court documents reviewed by CNN en Español.
The hotel employee and the local waiter implicated in cocaine supply remain in custody, facing penalties of up to 15 years in prison, as stated in court documents. The local waiter's lawyer claimed in December that his client was innocent and plans to appeal the charge, according to the New York Times.
Payne openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues. In the summer of 2023, he celebrated six months of sobriety following treatment at a US facility. He had plans to launch a new South American tour in September but had to postpone the dates due to a kidney infection.
"He was intelligent enough to create a supportive environment for himself, and the people around him did their best to help," Nores shared. "But in the end, it was Liam's decision."
Payne had already filmed his stint on Netflix's "Building the Band," serving as a judge alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland, according to Hollywood Reporter. Although Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the upcoming season, they plan to move forward with streaming the show.
Payne's passing sent shockwaves through the music industry and his legion of devoted fans worldwide, sparking a wave of global mourning for the artist who brought joy to many with his music.
Payne skyrocketed to global fame as a member of One Direction, one of Britain's most successful boybands, which was formed on the British X Factor in 2010. The group took an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
Payne was laid to rest during a funeral in England, attended by his former bandmates - Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.
CNN's Max Saltman and Christian Edwards, and CNNE's Manuela Castro contributed to this report.
- The homicide investigation into Liam Payne's death, who was a friend of Rogelio, revealed that five individuals initially faced charges, including Rogelio and two others whose charges were subsequently dropped.
- Despite the terrible events that transpired in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Payne met his demise, Rogelio recalled that before his tragic fall, Payne seemed fine and was in high spirits, enjoying the entertainment like Niall Horan's concert and typical activities with friends.
- During the investigation, it came to light that someone provided Payne with drugs before his death, but Rogelio believes that Payne's death was not a result of drug intake, instead, considering it a tragic accident.
