Rogelio “Roger” Nores, a close friend of Liam Payne, believes the singer’s tragic passing was due to an “extremely unfortunate” chain of events. Payne, a former member of One Direction, fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October at the age of 31. Following his death, local authorities arrested five individuals, including Nores, in connection with the incident. However, Nores and two others saw their charges dismissed.
Nores recounted that he had seen Payne shortly before the fall, describing him as “doing okay” and behaving normally. His shock at the passing was palpable, as he never imagined such a tragedy would occur. The trip to Buenos Aires was meant to be a personal getaway for Payne, who intended to attend a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan.
While Nores described Payne as joyous and enthusiastic about life during their trip—which included activities like bowling and going to the movies—following the departure of Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, the atmosphere shifted. Although Payne had reportedly maintained sobriety during the majority of the trip, drugs were provided to him shortly before his fatal fall. An autopsy revealed the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of death.
Nores expressed that the incident should not be defined by substance use, labelling it a tragic accident. He noted that Payne surrounded himself with a supportive environment, but ultimately, decisions regarding his welfare rested with the singer himself.
The incident prompted a judicial inquiry, with two hotel staff detained on charges related to drug supply, facing potential lengthy prison sentences. In January, charges against Nores and his associates were dismissed, with the focus shifting to those who provided illicit substances to Payne, underlining the event’s complex nature.
Liam Payne, who garnered immense fame as part of One Direction after the band formed on X Factor UK in 2010, had been open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse, recently celebrating six months of sobriety before this incident. He was preparing for a new tour when he fell ill, postponing commitments until his unexpected death shocked fans and the music community worldwide.
At Payne’s funeral in England, his former bandmates attended to pay their respects, reflecting the profound impact he had on those who knew him and his legions of fans across the globe. Nores, who had developed a close bond with Payne since 2020, is now focused on memories of their time together, mourning the loss of what he described as “one of the best friends I ever had.”