Liam Payne Was Dropped By Record Label Days Before His Death, Smashed His Laptop In Lobby Minutes Before Falling To His Death

Just days before former boy band heartthrob Liam Payne died, he was reportedly dropped by his record label and publicist.

Payne, 31, died on October 16 when he fell to his death from the third floor of a Buenos Aires hotel balcony.

Payne signed a deal with Capitol Records, owned by Universal, at 22 in July 2016, when he was launching his solo career post One Direction. Payne’s music career would flounder more than NY of the other former members.

Universal posted a tribute on Instagram the next day: “We are devastated by the tragic passing of Liam Payne. His legacy will live on through his music and the countless fans he inspired and who adored him. We send our deepest condolences to Liam’s family and loved ones.”

Payne reportedly trashed One Direction in the minutes before his death as a witness to Payne’s behavior before the fall recalled Payne saying, “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f—ed up.”

Another witness reported that earlier that day they had seen Payne shout “F— this mate!” and smash his laptop on the floor of the hotel lobby. A member of Payne’s entourage apologized for his behavior, but soon after, the hotel’s desk manager called emergency services over Payne’s behavior. “A guest who is over the top with drugs and breaking up the entire room. When he is conscious, he is breaking up the entire room. We need you to send someone, please.”

A guest at the hotel reported having heard “a lot of noise, like heavy lifting, banging, a lot of loud, violent noises,“ coming from Payne’s room before his death. They continued, “And I saw hotel people going in and out of that room, so I thought they were doing work on the room…So about 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., I started hearing some more noise…and I heard a really loud, violent scream around 4:45 p.m., 5 p.m.”

Emergency services arrived at 5:04 p.m., and Payne was already dead from the fall. Authorities found whiskey, a lighter and a cell phone on Payne’s body, while narcotics, alcohol, and medication such as Clonazepam were in Payne’s room. Pictures of his hotel room showed the table covered in tin foil with white powder, a lighter and scorch marks beside it, and a blackened aluminum drink can lid that had been heated. The room’s TV screen had also been smashed.

While Argentine police claimed that Payne “jumped” from his balcony, the Argentine prosecutor’s office said that Payne may have fallen while semi-conscious or unconscious.

Despite Universal’s tribute to Payne, they still do not list him as one of their artists on their site.