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The moment Liam Payne fell to his death was captured on security footage, claims an Argentinian journalist. And it may change how we feel about what happened.
As Perezcious readers know, the 31-year-old singer died this month in a fall from his fourth-story hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires. It was at first unclear whether the fall was intentional as local police said he “jumped.” The One Direction star was later found to be on multiple drugs, including the extremely dangerous cocktail known as “pink cocaine” — a mix of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, and other drugs. Liam, who had a history of struggling with substance abuse, also had cocaine, crack, and benzodiazepine in his system. The mix is believed to have put him in a compromised mental state — maybe even caused hallucinations.
Now, new claims have emerged about what happened just seconds before the tragedy that may give new insight into his mental state.
Related: Liam Payne’s Final TV Show Completed Filming — But It May Never Come Out!
According to Argentinian journalist Paula Varela on the Buenos Aires-based TV station Canal 13’s show Socios del Espectáculo, unreleased security footage captured the moments leading up to and during Liam’s fall. What did it show? The singer didn’t jump! Per Varela, he fainted at the last moment on the balcony — but because of where he was at the time, he fell! She explained on the program:
“There is footage that is not being released to the media with the balcony scene where you see that Liam faints, and tragically because of where he is, falls from that balcony. If he had been beside his bed, he would have fallen on his bed. It’s not that he jumped deliberately. This footage is in the official case files.”
Whoa…
It’s important to point out again that no security footage has been released, and no one else is confirming this — no other news sources or the police. Per GB News, authorities are keeping the CCTV footage under wraps for now as the investigation into the incident is still ongoing. So take all this with a grain of salt.
However, her claims do seem in line with what has come out from Liam’s preliminary autopsy. The docs stated the Strip That Down artist “may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness” while plunging from the balcony since the position his body was found in and his injuries show he “did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself.” Reflexes usually kick in when someone is falling to their death, whether they intentionally jumped or not. However, that did not occur with Liam here, showing he wasn’t totally conscious. So Varela’s claim he passed out seems plausible.
Even though Liam’s preliminary autopsy said “no injuries were observed that would suggest the involvement of third parties,” police are reportedly looking into who possibly supplied Liam with the drugs. Law enforcement are said to be investigating two hotel staff members at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Varela alleged one of the employees had an “excellent relationship” with Liam and did him a “favor” right before his death. What kind of favor? Sounds illicit… Varela explained:
“He struck up an excellent relationship with Liam. He disobeyed an order from the hotel management. … It was not to take anything into Liam’s room. Because of the good relationship he had with Liam, he requested a car through one of these taxi apps we all use because Liam wanted something. He did him that favor, a massive error because he’s being investigated, and they’re seeing what was transferred in that vehicle.”
Varela noted the hotel worker has since been suspended. Hmm…
Thoughts on all this, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments below.
If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse, help is available. Consider checking out the resources SAMHSA provides at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline or check out StartYourRecovery.org
[Image via The Jonathan Ross Show/YouTube, Paula Varela/Instagram]
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