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Sad news shocked the music industry on Oct. 16, when the world learned that Liam Payne had died. The global superstar, who shot to fame as a member of the group One Direction, was found dead outside a hotel he was staying at in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from a third-floor balcony. He was 31.

Payne has been in Argentina recently for his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert. Reuters obtained a transcript of the call to police and noted that they were dispatched to the CasaSur Hotel in the city’s Palermo neighborhood for a report of an aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol. 

On the call to emergency responders, the hotel manager explained: “We have a guest who is intoxicated by drugs and alcohol … He’s breaking the whole room.” The manager also informed authorities that there was a balcony off Payne’s room and said: “We’re a little afraid that he’ll do something that will put his life at risk.”

As fans everywhere mourn his passing, a video and some comments the singer made about meeting Sean “Diddy” Combs have resurfaced and are getting a lot of attention now.

Former One Direction member Liam Payne spotted out in Paris
Former One Direction member Liam Payne spotted out in Paris | Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Here’s why Payne called the Bad Boy Records founder “evil.”

Liam Payne remembered disturbing encounter with Diddy

Back in 2017, Payne spoke on two different occasions about his encounter with Diddy.

When he was a guest on the British TV program The Graham Norton Show Payne recounted how he was at a star-studded party where he saw Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Diddy all standing next to each other so he decided to walk over and introduce himself.

Payne told Norton and the audience that the encounter was uncomfortable because of the way Diddy acted. He recalled shaking the “I’m Coming Home” rapper’s hand and was met with a long and bizarre chuckle from Diddy that lasted for a while.

Payne elaborated during an interview with Australia’s KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O and described the meeting as a little more sinister, calling the laugh “evil.”

“I went over to speak to him and Jay-Z, and as I shook his hand, he just chuckled … the most evil laugh I’ve ever heard,” Payne revealed. “So I’m a little bit fearful of that man.”

Payne thought Diddy would have been more approachable than Jay-Z and DiCaprio but admitted he “missed the mark” and referred to that situation as “the most daunting celebrity experience” he ever had.

Hundreds of assault allegations against Diddy continue to pile up

Sean 'Diddy' Combs attends event at Howard University in Washington D.C.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attends event at Howard University in Washington D.C. | Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean “Diddy” Combs

Diddy is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

On Oct. 10, a judge set Diddy’s court date for May 5, 2025. This decision comes after new allegations from 120 accusers were brought against the music mogul. Since then, dozens of accusers have come forward and leveled even more assault allegations against the former Bad Boy boss.

Diddy has denied all the allegations and his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, told reporters that his client is looking forward to his day in court, saying: “He’s been looking forward to clearing his name, and he’s going to clear his name.”

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.