Liam Payne was reportedly dealing with significant legal challenges involving his former fiancée, Maya Henry, in the time leading up to his sudden death on October 16, at the age of 31.
A source close to the situation informed PEOPLE that Payne was “extremely overwhelmed by all of the legal issues” tied to Henry, who is a model and author from Texas.
Just days before Payne’s passing, Henry, 23, had issued a cease-and-desist order, alleging the former One Direction star had been persistently contacting her. According to The Daily Mail, she claimed Payne had been reaching out through various means, including her friends and family, following their breakup in 2022.
In a TikTok video posted on October 6, Henry described how her ex, whom she implied was associated with “One Direction fans,” continued to contact her from different numbers and email accounts. “Not only me, but he’ll blow up my mom’s phone. Is that normal behavior to you?” Henry asked viewers. She also claimed that Payne “weaponized” his fanbase, alleging he said he “preys on One Direction fans because they will always be loyal.”
Payne tragically died after a fall from multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Argentine authorities confirmed the incident to PEOPLE and have since initiated an investigation. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. Argentine news outlet TN was the first to report on the incident.
Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey, whom he shares with ex-partner Cheryl, the Girls Aloud singer.
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