Buenos Aires: Fans of British singer Liam Payne gathered on Sunday to unveil a commemorative bench in his honor at the British Cemetery of Buenos Aires. The tribute comes in remembrance of the former One Direction member, who tragically passed away after falling from the third floor of his hotel.
In the United Kingdom, it is a common tradition to dedicate benches in public spaces to honor lost loved ones, often featuring heartfelt, personal, or even humorous inscriptions. Payne’s fans sought to uphold this tradition, creating a meaningful space to remember the artist.
“It means a lot for the fans to have a place and bench in Liam’s name here,” said 26-year-old Luana Bustamante during the ceremony. The emotional gathering took place under overcast skies, with attendees placing flowers and a photograph of Payne on the bench. A priest was also present to offer blessings.
“This is where Liam spent his last days in Argentina, in the chapel here which served as a refuge before he was repatriated to his native country,” Bustamante added.
The 31-year-old singer was found deceased on October 16. According to investigative reports, Payne suffered multiple trauma and internal bleeding resulting from the fall. His body was initially laid to rest in the British Cemetery before being returned to his family in the United Kingdom on November 6, following the completion of toxicology and forensic examinations.
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As part of the tribute, fans also installed a red mailbox to allow visitors to send messages to Payne’s family.
“We know how many girls are going to come here and want to leave a message for the family,” said Lucia Esquivel, 24. “If possible, we want to send them through the person in charge of the cemetery to the United Kingdom.”
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“We hope with all our hearts this can be done,” she added.
