Rebecca Ferguson is among the famous faces paying tribute to the late singer Liam Payne, and has called out “exploitation and profiteering of young stars” in her statement.
According to outlets including Reuters and GMA News, the death of the former One Direction singer was announced via Buenos Aires local newspaper La Nacion. The report shared that Payne fell from the third floor of an Argentine hotel.
CNN has since confirmed the British singer’s death via a statement from local authorities. In a statement to Reuters, police said they were called to the hotel in the capital’s Palermo neighbourhood where they were notified of an “aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol,” though the man was not identified as Payne.
Since news broke, countless names from the entertainment world have come forward to pay their respects on social media. Among those is singer Rebecca Ferguson, who used the tribute to call out the “exploitation and profiteering of young stars”.
Ferguson was a contestant on British talent show The X Factor back in 2010 – the same season that One Direction were formed and later catapulted to fame.
“It’s always a hotel room! We both met at Euston station and shared the taxi together to X factor, young, innocent and unaffected by fame,” she began on X/Twitter. “I can’t help but think of that boy who was hopeful and looking forward to his bright future ahead.”
— Rebecca Ferguson MBE (@RebeccaFMusic) October 17, 2024
“If he hadn’t jumped on that train and jumped in that taxi I believe he would be alive today,” she continued. “I’ve spoken for years about the exploitation and profiteering of young stars and the effects – many of us are still living with the aftermath and the PTSD.
“Many of us are devastated and reflective today as it has finally taken its first victim. Rest in Peace Liam, I hope you find peace on the other side and love to your mum and family x”
Details about the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death remain limited at time of writing, but the news of his passing does come after the singer opened up about a stint in rehab last year, as well as the controversial and viral comments he made about his former One Direction bandmates.
This isn’t the first time that Ferguson has spoken out about what she sees as issues within the music industry. Back in 2021, the singer called for parliamentary action to trigger an “overhaul” of the music industry and the “bullying” that she alleged to be taking place within it.
It came after it was confirmed that the former X Factor star would be meeting with Secretary of State Oliver Dowden to discuss the welfare and treatment of musicians within the industry.
“The music industry is currently very much front of mind with the Commons Select Committee as the economics of music streaming is in the process of an investigation. Rebecca is calling for the Select Committee to extend the interrogation beyond just streaming and for artist welfare to come under the microscope,” a letter on the singer’s behalf read.
Rebecca Ferguson performs in 2024. CREDIT: C Brandon/Redferns/Getty Images
It added that Rebecca has since contacted “a major UK broadcaster” and broadcasting watchdog Ofcom to launch investigations into the treatment of artists involved in reality shows. “My proposals are not very different to other businesses, I just want the people working within the industry to have somebody above them, so they can never become so powerful that their actions are unpunishable.”
Shortly before then, she also launched a petition for the public to sign and support other musicians.
“Enough is enough and musicians/artists/creatives need change, a lot of my damage has been done but this is about protecting people in the future,” it read. “We need an immediate inquiry to take place to change the way people are allowed to operate in this industry!”
She had spoken candidly about her experiences of abuse before then too. In 2016 – six years after she appeared on X Factor – she revealed in an interview that she was sexually abused as a child.
“I’ve never spoken about it. I told one friend, but – as I’ve launched a website – this is the perfect place to speak about it,” she said on ITV’s Loose Women. “That is what I’m trying to do, make a safe place where women can speak about their problems.”
Liam Payne. Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Payne was best known for his time in One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. After the group’s indefinite hiatus in 2016, Payne went on to enjoy a solo career, and released one record: 2019’s ‘LP1’.
Earlier this month, he reportedly hit pause indefinitely on his sophomore record after the single ‘Teardrops’ failed to enter the UK top 30 (peaking at Number 43) and he parted ways with his manager earlier this year.
In a statement to Rolling Stone following news of his death, Buenos Aires medical emergency agency SAME said that Payne fell from a height of “about 13 or 14 metres,” and that he “suffered severe injuries incompatible with life”. Later, details of the 911 call made were published.
When contacted by Daily Mail for comment, Payne’s former fiancé Maya Henry’s representative said: “Right now she is obviously in shock.”
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