An Argentinian journalist has made a startling revelation about the tragic death of Liam Payne, who reportedly fell from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires. The former One Direction star tragically passed away earlier this month while on holiday in Argentina, where he had attended Niall Horan’s concert with his partner, Kate Cassidy.

Broadcast journalist Paula Varela has claimed that CCTV footage exists showing the moment Payne allegedly fainted on his balcony before falling, with the video being kept from the public by authorities. Varela made these comments on the TV show Socios del Espectaculo, airing on Canal 13, and also revealed that a hotel night worker, who had developed a close relationship with Liam, is under investigation for his possible involvement in Payne’s death.

Varela stated, “There is footage that hasn’t been released to the media showing Liam fainting and tragically falling because of his location. If he had been near his bed, he would have fallen there instead.”

She continued, “This is not a case of him jumping deliberately. The footage is part of the official investigation. There’s a night worker at the hotel who disobeyed hotel management’s orders by taking something into Liam’s room, which has led to further investigation.”

Varela also explained that the hotel worker, who had been close to Payne, used a taxi app at Liam’s request to bring something to the room. This action is now under investigation as authorities try to determine the source of drugs believed to have contributed to Payne’s tragic demise. The worker has been suspended, though he was previously highly regarded by the hotel.

Following Payne’s death on October 16, prosecutors stated they believed he was in a “semi or total unconscious” state during a substance-induced episode when he fell. The toxicology report confirmed that the injuries Payne sustained from the fall were incompatible with life, and authorities suspect that he didn’t protect himself during the fall due to being unconscious.