Thousands gather worldwide to remember One Direction star after his fatal fall in Argentina.

Following the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne at the age of 31, thousands of his devoted fans held emotional memorials across the world to honor his legacy. Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.

Memorial events were held in cities including London, Glasgow, Paris, Sydney, New York, and other locations like the Philippines and Colombia. In London, hundreds of fans gathered at the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens on Sunday afternoon, leaving handwritten notes, balloons, and flowers in tribute to the late singer.

Tess Hayden, a 24-year-old from the US, changed her travel plans to join fellow One Direction fans in London. Reflecting on the news, she described it as “surreal” and expressed the deep sadness of losing Payne at such a young age. Fans embraced one another while singing One Direction hits like What Makes You Beautiful and sharing memories of Payne’s music, which had been a soundtrack to many of their lives.

The memorial at Hyde Park was so large that organizers had to manage the crowd to ensure all fans could leave their tributes. Emotional messages such as “Liam, I love you” were echoed by fans, some of whom had traveled from abroad to join the vigil.

Meanwhile, Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, traveled to Buenos Aires to arrange for his son’s repatriation. He visited the hotel where the accident occurred and read letters from fans left outside the Casa Sur Hotel.

In Glasgow, fans also gathered at the Walter Scott Monument in George Square to pay tribute. Ellen Cree, 29, who attended the memorial in Scotland, described the event as poignant, with attendees sharing happy memories and singing songs in remembrance of Payne.

On social media, Payne’s sister Ruth Gibbins paid a heartfelt tribute, expressing regret for not being able to save him and writing, “I’m here if you need anything, I’d drive to the end of the universe to bring you back.” The family’s grief was shared by the global fanbase, many of whom had grown up with Payne’s music.

The impact of Payne’s passing was also felt across the entertainment industry. Following the news, the Britain’s Got Talent auditions were rescheduled, and former bandmate Zayn Malik postponed the US leg of his tour. Malik announced that the dates would be rescheduled for January, emphasizing the emotional weight of the loss.

Other tribute events were held in locations such as Buenos Aires’ Obelisco landmark, the Tuileries Garden in Paris, the Stockholm studio where One Direction recorded, Brussels, and even the British Embassy in Russia.

According to a post-mortem examination, Payne died from multiple trauma and both internal and external hemorrhaging. Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 is investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death,” with five witnesses questioned to reconstruct the events at the hotel.

In a joint statement, One Direction members expressed their deep sorrow, stating that they were “completely devastated” and would miss Payne “terribly.” They added, “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”