Liam Payne’s dad is being sued by singer’s friend following star’s tragic death
Topics: Liam Payne, Celebrity, Music
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images/Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images
Topics: Liam Payne, Celebrity, Music
Liam Payne’s dad, Geoff Payne, is being sued by the late singer’s friend, Rogelio 'Roger' Nores, following the star's tragic death.
The former One Direction singer tragically died last year (16 October), after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, aged just 31.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by Rolling Stone, Nores alleges that Geoff's statements to an Argentinian prosecutor investigating Liam’s death were false and defamatory, causing him over $10 million in damages.
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The suit claims that the grieving father made false statements implicating Nores in Liam's death, including allegations that he was responsible for the 'Night Changes' star's care and provided him with drugs.
Nores, however, denies such allegations and instead states he was merely a friend and had no caregiving responsibilities.
He pledges all 'net financial proceeds of the judicial proceedings for the benefit of Liam Payne’s son', Bear.
"All the proceeds will be donated to my friend’s son," Nores told the outlet on Thursday (16 January). "Geoff needs to backtrack on his [sworn] statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker.
"Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted."
Additionally, the lawsuit states that, although Geoff’s statements were made in another country, they were 'accessed by individuals in the Palm Beach County/Florida area' which caused harm there.
Nores claims he sent a defamation retraction letter to Geoff’s attorneys on earlier this month (8 January), but two days later (10 January), in a response included in the lawsuit, Liam’s estate refused to retract the statements and accused Nores of 'seeking to interfere with a police investigation by pressuring [Geoff] to change his evidence'.
They further stated they would 'bring his actions to the attention of the Argentinian authorities'.
The response letter read: "The Estate could not take this matter more seriously, It has therefore taken the decision to support [Geoff] in this matter.
"[Geoff] denies, in the strongest possible terms, that he has defamed or otherwise caused any harm to your client (in the manner set out by your correspondence of 8 January 2025 or otherwise)."
Nores' suit comes after he was charged, along with four other people, over Liam's death.
Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office previously said in a statement that the hotel’s manager, a receptionist and a friend of Liam have been charged with manslaughter.
Those charged were confirmed to be hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi and Nores.
Two other individuals, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz, were charged with supplying cocaine.
LADbible Group has contacted the representatives of Geoff Payne and Roger Nores for comment.