Oct. 16 brought news of the death of beloved musical artist and One Direction band member, Liam Payne. Known for his boyish charm, kind disposition, and genuine love for fans, the loss of the singer brought grief to not only friends and family but millions of devotees, including those within Whitworth’s community.
“I actually felt a little bit of grief, which I know is kind of silly,” reflected senior education major Gracie Caudle. “I never knew him, obviously, but it’s like losing your favorite celebrity. It doesn’t feel real, especially when they were such a big part of your childhood and your teenage years.”
An initial toxicology report revealed that the singer’s system was flooded with multiple drugs, specifically a cocktail known as ‘pink cocaine.’ Most commonly a powdered mixture of ketamine and other illegal substances, such as methamphetamine, opioids or psychoactive substances, and MDMA (molly/ecstasy), a study published last year in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse denotes the dangerous combination contained within the gentle name of ‘pink cocaine’.
Shortly before the singer’s death, a receptionist at the hotel he was residing in called 911 to report an intoxicated and distressed guest who was “breaking the whole room.” Audio pulled from local media by Telemundo provides detail to this call, the receptionist describing the guest as being “…in a room that has a balcony, and, well, we are a little afraid that he might do something life-threatening.”
Payne, 31, was found dead a few minutes after the 911 call. Argentina’s national emergency health service confirmed the singer’s fall from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. An autopsy discovered 25 injuries had by the One Direction member, stating his cause of death to be “polytraumatism, internal and external hemorrhage,” according to the Argentina National Prosecutor’s Office.
“One Direction will never be the same without Liam,” said Whitworth sophomore and tennis team member, Jordan Turner.
This dark fatality resonates in several ways with fans from all walks of life. Caudle said, “Since his [Payne’s] death, I have been listening to One Direction‘s music a lot more, and I know that a lot of people online have been also doing that. I think it reminds me of when Matthew Perry died and how an entire generation was affected by it because of his impact on the entertainment industry.”
Undoubtedly, the loss of such an icon and childhood monument as Liam Payne leaves a marked impression in the minds of many. “I think it’s one of the first people in our generation that had such an impact to suddenly pass away at such a young age, and I’m sure it kind of shocks everyone at least a little bit,” said Caudle.
