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Days after Liam Payne fell to his death from a hotel balcony, police entered the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires in search of CCTV footage and other clues to the 31-year-old’s tragic end. The former One Directioner had been on a bender, trashing his room.
An initial toxicology report revealed the British singer had multiple drugs, including “pink cocaine” — a recreational drug that typically includes MDMA, ketamine and methamphetamine — in his system.
An insider exclusively tells In Touch law enforcement is investigating who sold the dad of 7-year-old son Bear the drugs prior to his death. “Someone should be held accountable.”
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In the wake of Liam’s tragic death, calls are coming about how young stars are exploited by the industry and left unprepared for sudden fame.
“There is a legal and moral duty of care, which should be upheld and adhered to,” argued Katie Waissel, who appeared with Liam on season 7 of U.K.’s The X Factor in 2010. On the show, which launched his career, she said, there was “no duty of care.” And Liam is just the latest star to burn out too soon.
Simon Cowell, the music industry bigwig who packaged One Direction on The X Factor, said he was “heartbroken” by Liam’s death. “And I feel empty,” the 65-year-old posted. “And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I shed is in memory of you.”
The boy band, made up of Liam, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik, sold more than 70 million records worldwide, earning legions of teen fans before going on hiatus in 2016.
“They weren’t emotionally mature enough to handle the fame,” says the insider, adding that they spent their youth holed up in hotel rooms between mobbed appearances. “They were treated as if they were merchandise.”
Liam had been open about the pressure to perform. Along with his mental health struggles, he battled drug addiction, spending 100 days in rehab in 2023.
“Going out and putting that happy smile on my face and singing the songs, honestly, sometimes it was like putting on one of those costumes,” he said. “People don’t really see what’s going on.”
Of course, Liam was ultimately responsible for his own decisions, but it wasn’t easy when his life was ruled by being a teen idol. Others have shared his sad end, failed by doctors, family and unsavory friends — often while appearing completely fine to adoring fans.
Heath Ledger had just completed The Joker when he died of an overdose at age 28 in 2008, and went on to win a posthumous Oscar for the role. Behind the scenes, the dad to a young daughter was struggling, however.
According to Gerry Grennell, a friend who lived with the Aussie actor at the time, Heath was “exhausted emotionally and physically” while battling a pneumonia-type illness. It later became clear he had gone to multiple doctors for the prescriptions that ultimately killed him.
Self-medicating was something he did to cope, adds friend N’fa Forster-Jones, noting that Heath resented having to “be a bit of a hermit” to escape fans.
Family can be just as problematic. Famous since the age of 9, Aaron Carter grew up in a dysfunctional home where his and his brother Backstreet Boy Nick Carter‘s work paid the bills.
At 34, the father of a 2-year-old died by accidental drowning after overdosing in his bathtub. Shortly before Aaron’s death, Nick shunned him for siding with women who’d accused Nick of sexual assault. (Nick denied the allegations.)
“Aaron was already in a bad place,” his sister Angel later said, adding, “Fame and money took over our family.”
Not every story has an unhappy ending. A few celebs have seen the darkness and managed to survive it.
Demi Lovato, 32, seemed to overcome an eating disorder and substance abuse issues, only to overdose from fentanyl-laced heroin in 2018. Dying, she said, made the Disney star realize how little control she had over her life. “I’m now in control.”
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Another cautionary tale resonating again is that of Justin Bieber. At age 15, he was put in the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has denied a litany of claims of sexual violence against him.
Now 30, Justin made it through despite parental neglect. “For young stars especially, it’s so easy to lose one’s way,” says the insider. “There’s no one to say no and look after them.”
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