Liam Payne Dropped by Universal Music Days Before Tragic Death

Liam Payne was reportedly dropped by Universal Music just days before his shocking death. A source told the Daily Mail that the former One Direction star was let go due to his struggling solo career, saying, “Liam’s advance was massive and he didn’t recoup it. Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically.” His sophomore album was said to be on hold before the label severed ties.

Payne had signed with Capitol Records, a Universal Music label, in 2016 after One Direction announced their hiatus in 2015. Additionally, his publicity team reportedly resigned earlier in October.

Following the news of his death, Universal Music expressed their devastation, stating that his “legacy will live on through his music and the countless fans he inspired.” They extended their condolences to his family and loved ones.

In the days leading up to his death, Payne was reportedly feeling overwhelmed by ongoing legal issues with his ex-fiancée, Maya Henry, who had sent him a cease-and-desist letter. Henry claimed in a TikTok video that Payne had been contacting her and her family despite being in a new relationship. She accused him of using his mental health struggles as a “manipulation tactic” to get her to engage with him.

Tragically, Payne died from multiple traumas after falling off a third-story balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday evening. Witnesses reported that he was acting erratically and damaging his hotel room prior to the incident. The hotel manager even called emergency services, expressing concern for the singer’s safety.

“We have a guest who is allegedly high and drunk; and when he is conscious, he is destroying his room and we need you to send someone, please,” the employee reported. “We need you to send someone urgently because I don’t know if his life is in danger.”