Liam Payne’s erratic behavior before death: smashed laptop, escorted back to hotel room

Liam Payne was reportedly struggling with mental health issues in the moments leading up to his death on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses informed TMZ that the former One Direction member had been "acting erratic" in the lobby of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina, where he was staying as a guest.

He allegedly smashed his laptop and had to be escorted back to his room due to his behavior.

According to local news outlet La Nacion, police were alerted to “an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol” at the hotel.

At around 5 p.m. local time, Payne reportedly fell from the balcony of his third-floor room to his death. It remains unclear whether the fall was intentional or accidental. He was 31.

Photos obtained by TMZ showed the "Night Changes" singer lying on the ground outside the hotel, with police and first responders present at the scene.

Despite the claims of unusual behavior, Payne had posted several videos on Snapchat earlier that day, in which he appeared to be in good spirits and even mentioned having a "lovely day" in Argentina.

The "What Makes You Beautiful" singer was reportedly in Argentina to support his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan, who had a recent concert there.

Payne traveled to Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, but had also been preparing for a legal battle with his ex-fiancée, Maya Henry, according to the Daily Mail.

Earlier this week, the publication reported that Henry's lawyers had sent Payne a cease-and-desist letter, demanding he stop contacting her.

“Ever since we broke up he messages me, will blow up my phone, not only from his phone, it’s always from different phone numbers too, so I never know where it’s gonna come from,” she claimed in a recent TikTok.

Henry, now 23, also recently suggested that she had an abortion during her relationship with Payne. The couple dated from 2018 to 2022.

Payne also had a 7-year-old son named Bear, with his ex Cheryl Cole, whom he dated from 2016 to 2018.

The singer met Cole, 41, during their time on "The X Factor," the UK-based singing competition show that launched Payne's career with One Direction.