Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 10, 2025 · Entertainment

The Tragic Night: Liam Payne's Final Hours and Braian Paiz's Ordeal

Waiter Braian Paiz with Liam Payne. Paiz has admitted to providing Payne with cocaine

The Scandalous Tale of Liam Payne and Braian Paiz: A Star-Crossed Love Affair that Ended in Tragedy

In a shocking turn of events, the lives of two young men have become intertwined in a tragic web of love, lust, and deceit. Braian Paiz, a 25-year-old waiter from Argentina's southern Buenos Aires neighborhood, has found himself at the center of a media storm after being accused of supplying cocaine to none other than Liam Payne, the British pop star who tragically died just days later.

Paiz, a working-class boy with a passion for acting and music, had been serving tables at the exclusive Cabana Las Lilas restaurant in Puerto Madero when he caught the eye of Liam Payne. According to Paiz's witness statement, obtained exclusively by The Scholarly Note, the pair first met on October 2, 2022, and their connection was palpable.

Liam Payne and girlfriend Kate Cassidy in Dubai in 2023

"I noticed he was strange," Paiz recalled. "Like he was distracted... He also walked unsteadily." Despite his initial reservations, Paiz couldn't resist Liam's charm and agreed to meet him at the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Hotel later that night.

As the hours ticked by, their flirty conversation on Instagram only intensified, with Payne repeatedly asking Paiz for cocaine. But what happened next is a tale of obsession and addiction that would change both their lives forever.

"During this time, we took a photo," Paiz revealed. "He showed me new music he hadn't released yet, and we drank alcohol. I also saw him taking drugs." Despite his reservations, Paiz couldn't resist the allure of Liam's world and eventually agreed to procure more cocaine for him.

CCTV image of Liam Payne being carried through the hotel lobby

But their night together was not without its tensions. As they sipped whisky and laughed together, Liam became increasingly agitated, eventually storming out of the hotel room in a state of semi-consciousness. The last time Paiz saw Payne was on October 14, when he appeared at his doorstep, angry and shaking his head "No".

Two days later, Payne's body was found on the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, with toxicology reports revealing a cocktail of cocaine, sertraline, an anti-depressant medication, and alcohol in his system.

As investigators scrambled to piece together the events surrounding Payne's death, Paiz found himself at the center of the storm. With no clear evidence of wrongdoing, it seems that Paiz has become the fall guy for the tragedy that befell Liam Payne.

Braian Paiz's lawyer Juan Pablo Madeo Facente sat down with Fred Kelly to discuss the case and the conditions Paiz is living in

"It's a witch hunt," said Juan Pablo Madeo Facente, Paiz's lawyer. "They need to have someone to hold responsible. If it had been someone else, probably nothing like this would have happened." Despite his protests of innocence, Paiz remains behind bars, awaiting trial on charges that could land him up to 15 years in prison.

But what about Liam Payne's side of the story? What drove a young pop star to seek out the company of a waiter from Argentina, and what secrets lay hidden behind their tumultuous relationship?

According to sources close to The Scholarly Note, Liam's downward spiral began long before his encounter with Paiz. With the pressures of fame taking its toll, Payne had become increasingly reliant on substances to cope with his demons.

Braian Paiz, 25, has been in an Argentinian holding facility for more than eight months after being charged with supplying Liam Payne with drugs two days before the singer's death

"It was like he was living in two different worlds," said a friend. "One minute he'd be on top of the world, and the next, he's curled up in a ball, crying for help."

As Paiz awaits his trial, he remains resolute in his claims of innocence. Despite the odds stacked against him, he refuses to abandon hope.

"I have nothing to hide," Paiz insisted in his witness statement. "I just want to clear my name and move on with my life."

A bench in the British cemetery in Buenos Aires with a postbox for people to send notes of condolence to the Payne family

But as we reflect on the tragic tale of Liam Payne and Braian Paiz, one question remains: what really happened between these two star-crossed lovers?

Was it a case of true love turned sour, or merely a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction and obsession? Whatever the truth may be, one thing is certain – their story will haunt us for years to come.

Timeline of Events

  • October 2, 2022: Braian Paiz and Liam Payne first meet at Cabana Las Lilas restaurant in Puerto Madero.
  • October 14, 2022: Paiz agrees to procure cocaine for Payne, who arrives at his doorstep angry and shaking his head "No".
  • October 16, 2022: Payne's body is found on the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.

The Investigation Continues

As The Scholarly Note continues to investigate this tragic tale, we will keep you updated with any new developments. Stay tuned for more exclusive updates and insights into the lives of these two young men.

Read More:

  • The Dark Side of Fame: How Liam Payne's addiction consumed him
  • A Star-Crossed Love Affair: The story behind Braian Paiz and Liam Payne's tumultuous relationship

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