Liam Payne's heartbreaking final hours as Netflix show sees him hiding pain

Daily Mirror

09-07-2025

Liam Payne tragically died last year after filming the new Netflix series, Building the Band, a project which he held close to his heart to help emerging singers
Liam Payne bravely masked his hidden struggles while filming Building the Band. The new Netflix series, which airs today showcased the late musician at his best – enjoying music and helping others.
Last year, the world was left heartbroken when Liam tragically died, aged just 31, after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had been holidaying in Latin America with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, just weeks after he filmed the show in Manchester.
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On the show, Liam sits alongside global mega-star and former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland and his pal Nicole Scherzinger, who created One Direction, the band in which Liam found fame while appearing on The X Factor as a guest judge. Since Liam's death in October last year, there had been speculation as to whether the show would go ahead.
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But it later emerged that his family had given their blessing for it to be aired, as this was the Liam that they and his millions of fans loved. However, away from filming, Liam was secretly battling his own internal demons, but hid this from his fans. In the past, he had been vocal about his battles with addiction and had sought treatment.
And although Liam was clean while filming, he sadly relapsed while in Argentina before his sad death. While in his hotel, the Casa Sur Palermo, Liam was said to have been acting erratically and had to be escorted back to his hotel room shortly before the fatal fall.
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It was claimed that the dad-of-one had seen "an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol". Liam was also seen "acting erratically in the hotel lobby and smashing his laptop" before he "had to be carried back to his room". After Liam was taken to his hotel room, hotel staff said they heard a loud sound in the hotel courtyard.
Tragically, his body was discovered shortly before 5pm local time. He sustained injuries which were incompatible with life, including a fracture at the base of his skull.
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In November, a report from the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office concluded that traces of "alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants" had been detected in Liam's system. Explaining why suicide had been ruled out, officials revealed that "in the state he was in, he did not know what he was doing and could not understand it".
It also disclosed that Payne had been three times the US legal driving limit at the time of his death, with concentration levels of 2.7 grams per litre of blood in his system.
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A blood alcohol concentration of 2.7 grams per litre (0.27%), can cause serious symptoms, including confusion, disorientation, and feeling dazed, according to Alcohol.org. A blood alcohol content of 0.3% or higher can result in alcohol poisoning, and a level of 0.4% can be fatal.
Before his death, Liam was rushed to hospital when he was celebrating his one-year anniversary with 23-year-old girlfriend Kate Cassidy at the five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Lake Como. He was said to be in "agony" with a friend saying that Liam had "struggled" after the disbandment of One Direction.
It later emerged that Liam had been left requiring medical treatment over his kidneys. It had been well documented that Liam has suffered from health issues ever since he was a newborn baby, as he arrived into the world several weeks premature. Doctors discovered he had scarring on one of his kidneys, and he was required to receive sixteen injections into each of his arms twice a day to keep him alive.
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His health eventually improved as he grew older and he threw himself into sports to keep healthy. He later explained that his health scare as a baby gave him a clear perspective to live a healthier life. He said previously: "I have to be careful not to drink too much, even water, and I have to keep myself as healthy as possible."
Liam had kept this from his fans and ensured that they had seen him at his happiest. In the new series, the musician can be seen flashing his signature smile. But his family had been apprehensive about Building the Band airing, with his older sister Ruth saying she was "heartbroken" that Liam wouldn't see the programme.
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Ruth shared on her Instagram Stories: "I didn't know whether to share this, but it felt odd when I've raved about Liam's work and achievements for the past 15 years. I'm heartbroken he never got the chance to see how brilliant he is in this show. He knew he had done a good job, we all told him this when we were at filming, but watching it back, wow!" She went on to add: "You're a star Liam, you always were and always will be. There are a range of emotions I felt watching this, but one of the main ones is immeasurable pride, always. Miss you more every day."
Netflix have ensured that Liam's legacy will be cemented on the programme and he will remain a firm key feature on the show. A source said: "Even though Liam had filmed a substantial amount of material for the show, the decision was made shortly after his passing to continue the project, honour his legacy and amazing story as a One Direction member and bring this series to audiences."
The streaming giant said: "Liam Payne's family reviewed the series and is supportive of his inclusion."