One Direction singer Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 after falling from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Argentina. His shocking death led to an outpouring of grief from fans and friends across the globe, with his family releasing a heartbreaking statement in which they praised the late popstar’s sense of humor and his bravery.

“We are heartbroken,” they began. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

The pop star was born in the U.K. and is understood to have owned a home in Buckinghamshire at the time of his passing; however, during his life, he owned multiple properties, including homes in Surrey and a mansion in Calabasas, CA, which he sold to fellow musician Halsey in 2021.

Payne rose to fame as a member of the wildly popular boy band One Direction, alongside fellow members Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. They enjoyed enormous global success, selling some 70 million records. Payne’s co-writing credits include “Story of My Life” and “Night Changes.”

After the group disbanded, he went on to a solo career, with a major hit in 2017, “Strip That Down” with rapper Quavo. Payne also became a father to son, Bear, now 7, who he shared with his former partner, singer Cheryl Cole.