Rogelio “Roger” Nores, a close friend of Liam Payne, was among the last to see the former One Direction singer alive. He described Payne’s passing as an “extremely unfortunate” incident, emphasizing that those close to him had done their best to support his sobriety. Payne, 31, tragically fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October. Authorities later charged five individuals in connection with his death, though charges against Nores and two others were dismissed.
Nores recounted that he and Payne had traveled to Argentina for personal reasons, including attending a concert by former bandmate Niall Horan. During their time together, they engaged in everyday activities like bowling and watching movies. Nores insisted that Payne appeared happy and was maintaining his sobriety. However, days before the tragic incident, Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had left Buenos Aires, and at some point, he was provided with drugs. A postmortem examination revealed alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system.
Despite these findings, Nores believed that substance use was not the sole cause of Payne’s death. “I don’t think the drugs killed him,” he said. “It was just an unfortunate accident.” Nores met Payne in 2020, and their friendship quickly became a strong bond. Reflecting on their time together, he described Payne as “one of the best friends I ever had.”
The investigation into Payne’s death remains ongoing. While Nores and some others were cleared of charges, a hotel employee and a waiter accused of supplying drugs to the singer still face prosecution, with potential sentences of up to 15 years in prison. The defense for one of the accused has denied wrongdoing and is appealing the charges.
Payne had been open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health. In 2023, he celebrated six months of sobriety after undergoing treatment in the U.S. He was preparing for a new South American tour before a kidney infection forced him to postpone. Despite the efforts of his loved ones to support him, Nores reflected, “They tried really hard to help, but at the end of the day, it was Liam’s decision.” Payne’s sudden passing left a deep void in the music industry, with fans and fellow artists mourning the loss of a beloved performer.
