Former One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from the balcony of his third floor hotel room in Argentina

Liam Payne was “preyed upon” in the hours leading up to his death after toxicology reports found “pink cocaine” in the pop star’s system, it has been claimed.

The former One Direction star, 31, died on October 16 after falling from the third floor balcony of his room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Toxicology reports have revealed that Payne had “pink cocaine” in his system – a recreational drug featuring a toxic concoction including methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack.

According to Argentinian news outlet Clarin, police are now investigating three employees at the hotel and two women who had been in Liam’s room earlier in the day.

Liam Payne

Former One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from the balcony of his third floor hotel room in Argentina

PA

Speaking to GB News, showbiz reporter Hayley Palmer claimed that Payne was “not doing great mentally” after being dropped by his record label Universal, as well as his PR company.

Palmer explained: “Pink cocaine is a toxic mix of drugs and it sounds extremely dangerous, and I can only think, from what we’ve heard, that he just was mentally not in a good place after being dropped by his record label and his PR company.

“His girlfriend had left two days before, he had ADHD, he mentally wasn’t great. And it’s just so shocking to hear these reports that the drugs were found in his system.”

Shedding light on the most recent developments surrounding Payne’s death, Palmer noted that the particular drug is “linked to South America”, and the 31-year-old’s supply “may have come from a hotel worker or someone in the area”.

Geoff Payne

Payne’s dad Geoff visited the Buenos Aires hotel in the days following his death, thanking the fans for their support

Reuters

Palmer told GB News: “It’s been reported that this could have potentially come from the hotel workers. So there’s thought to be at least two being questioned at the moment.

“One of those is a cleaner in the hotel, and it has been confirmed that it has been linked to someone in the area.”

When asked by host Tom Harwood if the trip for Payne was “doomed all along”, Palmer disagreed, claiming: “I’m not sure it was a doomed trip, because I think he genuinely was going to visit his bandmate and he was going with his girlfriend.

“And I do believe it was meant to be a short trip, that turned into an extended trip.”

She added: “Allegedly the drugs were put into a Dove soap box – and if you look at the photos shared of the hotel room, it looks like that could have been the case.”
Hayley Palmer

Hayley Palmer suggests Payne was ‘preyed upon’ in the hours leading up to his death

GB News

Turning the discussion to other claims made by those close to Payne that he was “getting over” his battle with drug and alcohol addiction, Palmer suggested that the star was “preyed upon” by those who were supplying the drugs.

Palmer said: “Apparently, the Tuesday before, he got the all clear.

“And I think he really tried, he was very open about his mental state and his battle with alcohol.

“It’s such a shame, then, to hear that this happened and that he could have been preyed upon.”