Liam Payne’s cousin makes emotional confession nearly two years after his death

Liam Payne’s cousin Ross Harris has opened up about the former One Direction star’s final hours, revealing a heartbreaking detail nearly two years after the singer’s sudden death.

Payne died at the age of 31 on October 16, 2024, after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His death shocked fans around the world and left his family and friends struggling to understand how they had lost him so suddenly. (AP News⁠)

In a recent interview with Good Morning Britain, Harris shared that he had actually missed a call from Payne on the day he died. According to Harris, he was recording at the time and did not notice his phone ringing.

He later saw the missed call and planned to return it.

“I’ll call him back when we’re done,” Harris recalled. But when he eventually tried to call Payne, he believes his cousin had already died. (ITVX⁠)

The confession has added another painful layer to Harris’ grief. He also spoke about how Payne, despite being surrounded by millions of fans, may not have always felt personally loved and supported.

“He didn’t feel very loved,” Harris said, explaining that there was a difference between people loving the global superstar Liam Payne and someone simply loving Liam as a person.

Harris also criticized parts of the entertainment industry, arguing that Payne had been placed into the spotlight at a very young age. Payne was only 16 when he appeared on The X Factor and was later placed into One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

According to Harris, Payne never had the opportunity to grow up away from the intense pressures of fame. He described the singer as someone who was still “basically a kid” within the industry, despite being in his thirties. (ITVX⁠)

Harris had previously spoken about Payne’s personal struggles shortly after his death. In an October 2024 tribute, he referred to the “demons” Payne had been fighting and remembered the time they spent together writing songs, making plans and reconnecting as they had when they were younger. (Us⁠)

Now, Harris is honoring his cousin through music. He has released a tribute song, with proceeds going toward a newly launched charity supporting causes connected to Payne.

Nearly two years later, Harris’ revelations show that behind the global fame was a young man his family remembered simply as Liam — a cousin, musician and loved one whose loss continues to hurt deeply.