The death of Liam Payne, who rose to fame as a singer for one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, One Direction, has left his friends and fans in shock.
Local media reported he died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina.
"I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me," American singer Charlie Puth said on Instagram. "He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I cannot believe he is gone."
Paris Hilton wrote on X she was upset hearing the news of his Payne's death. "Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend."
American singer Corbyn Besson, of band Why Don't We, wrote on X that he looked up to One Direction as a young artist.
"You really never know when it's your time to go. remind your friends/family that you love them today and every day."
New Zealand broadcaster Mike Puru posted a picture of the One Direction members from when they had come down to New Zealand and did a radio interview with him.
"Feeling for those boys - such a loss for one of the greatest groups while I was in the edge era - RIP Liam."
Recording artist Liam Payne of music group One Direction performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM?s Jingle Ball 2015 Presented by Capital One at STAPLES CENTER on December 4, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Christopher Polk / Getty Images via AFP
Lucy Blakiston, who runs the New Zealand pop-culture multimedia news platform Shit You Should Care About, wrote the band was a big part of her life.
"I'm sure that anyone who follows Shit You Should Care About by now knows just how much One Direction meant to me - being part of that fandom was what taught me all the skills I needed to learn to be able to run this platform.
"They changed my life so much that I even dedicated a whole essay in our book to them titled "I Owe It All To One Direction"."
BRIT Awards, Spotify, iHeartRadio and MTV wrote on their X accounts that they were sad to hear the news and that their thoughts and prayers were with his loved ones and fans.
US-based fan account of One Direction, Chartdata1D, wrote they were "absolutely devastated. more than devastated".
"Liam james payne, dad of the band, outgoing, very talented, an amazing father. you mean so much to me and others. thank you for everything you've done for the boys, your family, and especially us fans. love you forever."
One Direction fan Violeta Antier told Reuters she had come straight away after he sister told her Payne had died.
"I saw him two weeks ago at a Niall (Horan) concert, another One Direction member. He was there, I saw him," she said. "He was ok."
Payne had on 2 October attended the Buenos Aires concert of his former bandmate Niall Horan on the Argentine leg of a Latin American tour that spanned Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia. The two had posted videos together and with fans.
Earlier on Wednesday, Payne had appeared to post on Snapchat about his trip in Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.
"It's a lovely day here in Argentina," he said in the video.
- RNZ / Reuters