Liam Payne’s Cousin Reveals Devastating Detail Weeks After Final CCTV Footage Released
Liam Payne’s cousin, Ross Harris, has opened up about the former One Direction star’s final days in a new interview with ITV, revealing he missed a call from the singer on the day he died and reflecting on the emotional toll of fame.
Missed Call and Lasting Regret
Payne, 31, died on 16 October 2024 after falling 46 feet from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A toxicology report later confirmed the presence of cocaine, alcohol, and the sedative Klonopin in his system. The cause of death was ruled as polytrauma.
Harris, who taught Payne to play piano as a child, told ITV his phone was face down during a recording session when the singer tried to reach him. “I think my phone must have been face down and we were recording, and yeah, just completely missed it,” he said. “And then I think I probably saw it maybe an hour or two later… then I tried to call, but I think he was already gone by that point.”
Looking back, Harris described the weight of hindsight. “Hindsight’s a beautiful, awful thing where if I could go back, I would change absolutely everything.”
‘He Didn’t Feel Very Loved’
Beyond the missed call, Harris painted a picture of a man who struggled with the disconnect between public adoration and private isolation. “He didn’t feel very loved,” Harris said, adding that while “fans loved Liam Payne,” the singer “needed someone to love Liam.”
Harris emphasized that despite being in his thirties, Payne never had the chance to mature outside the spotlight. “Even though he was in his thirties, he was still basically a kid in this industry because he didn’t have a chance to grow up like a normal person would outside of the fame system.” He continued: “I think in entertainment the cost is much higher because someone’s image and their health is on the line in a public facing way where a mistake has a much higher cost.”
Final Hours Captured on CCTV
Police-released CCTV from earlier this month showed Payne in the hotel lobby with two women, identified as Ildana Serrano and Lucila Goite, both of whom later claimed to have had sex with him. Footage also captured him wandering corridors, swinging from a lamppost, and staff delivering buckets of champagne and whiskey to his room. Receipts indicate Payne spent more than $600,000 on whisky during his stay.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
WhatsApp messages from hotel staff dated 14 October, previously published by the Mail on Sunday, reveal concerns about managing Payne’s behavior. Authorities had been called to the hotel before his death over welfare concerns.
Two hotel employees — Ezequiel Pereyra, 22, and waiter Braian Paiz, 26 — were arrested and charged with supplying drugs to the singer. Both have been released on bail and deny all charges. Legal sources indicate plea deal negotiations are ongoing.
Musical Tribute
Harris has released a song titled Bones in tribute to his cousin. Proceeds from the track will support causes close to Payne’s heart.
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