An Argentine waiter has admitted taking drugs with Liam Payne in his hotel room before his death, but insists he did not accept any money for it.
Braian Nahuel Paiz has spoken out after being arrested in connection with the death of Liam Payne, who fell from the third floor balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel.
The 24-year-old met Liam at the restaurant where he worked two nights before his tragic death and claims they spent those nights drinking whiskey and taking cocaine.
Paiz was arrested on charges of supplying and supplying narcotics, but denied any involvement in Liam's death.
Now, ahead of an upcoming documentary titled “TMZ Investigates: Liam Payne: Who's to Blame?”, Paiz admitted to doing cocaine with Liam but denied accepting money for drugs, including a Rolex watch .
“They say that I'm the dealer, that I carry drugs, that I sold them, and the truth is, no, no, I didn't sell them,” Paiz told TMZ.
When asked if he had taken drugs with Liam the night he met the star, Paiz added: “Yes, there was.” There was cocaine – there wasn't even much of it, but we had some with whiskey.”
“The second night too.” “The soap box and some aluminum foil were already there – drugs scattered everywhere.”
Paiz told TMZ he didn't accept Liam's money for the drugs, claiming the One Direction star wanted to offer him his Rolex, but he declined the offer.
“I didn't accept it. I didn't accept anything, just a drawing he drew depicting part of my eyes, nose and mouth,” he added.
A photo showing Paiz with Liam Payne, allegedly during their first arranged meeting at a hotel
Liam's last post on Snapchat before he fell to his death from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires
The paraphernalia was left in Liam's room when police entered the hotel suite. Paiz admitted that the couple “did drugs together.”
On October 16, Liam, just 31, fell 14 meters from the third floor balcony of room 10 at the CasaSur hotel in the upscale Palermo district, where he had been staying three days earlier as part of a two-week trip to the South American capital.
Among other things, he was there to see his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan perform a solo show at the 15,000-seat Movistar Arena on October 2nd.
Paiz has previously addressed the allegations against him. Appearing on Argentine television last month, he claimed he first met Liam at the restaurant where he worked in the posh Puerto Madero district.
He said he exchanged contact information with the singer while having dinner with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy and two other people.
He spoke in an on-camera interview with journalist Guillermo Panizza, who at one point had to explain to a presenter in the studio what Paiz wanted to say when the young man's nerves seemed to get the better of him.
After meeting Liam for the first time at the restaurant where he worked, Paiz said he next saw him on October 2 at an arranged meeting at a hotel where the singer was staying.
“I never supplied Liam with drugs,” he said. “Liam's first contact with me was at my workplace.
“We exchanged details and saw each other later that night.” Everything was normal. He came down from his hotel room to pick me up because I was lost.
An Instagram post from 24-year-old Braian Nahuel Paiz standing by the late Liam Payne before he fell to his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The post reads: “Fly high, Chief.” Thank you for enlightening me and introducing me to my reality. I will always remember you.
A criminal investigation is underway against Paiz and he was admitted to two hotel meetings with the 31-year-old
A drone shot shows the balcony of the CasaSur Hotel from which Payne fell to his death
Liam looks at his laptop in the lobby of the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday at 4:26 p.m. After his fall, the alarm was raised at 5:04 p.m
He called the hotel where they first met “Hyatt in Palermo,” adding, “We met there and he showed me some of the music he wanted to release.”
“I've heard people say he was on drugs, but the truth is that when he walked into the restaurant where I worked, he was already under the influence of drugs and wasn't actually eating anything.”
“There was a moment when he came up to me and asked me for my contact details. I gave him an Instagram account and then he sent me messages because he wanted to do drugs even though he had already used narcotics.
“It was October 2nd. While I was in his room we had a few shots of whiskey.”
The TV show showed viewers a photo of him and Liam together, said to have been taken at their first meeting at the hotel
Paiz said they next met at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 13, three days before Liam's death.
“We spent the night together, we did drugs because in reality something intimate happened,” he said.
“He wasn't aggressive at all, he behaved really well with me, he was really sweet.” He asked me if I was okay.
“I received all the messages in which we arranged the second meeting. I didn't delete anything.'
Paiz claimed that he did not take any cash from the singer.
Liam arrives at the UK premiere of 'All Of Those Voices' at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 16, 2023
A large crowd gathers in London to honor the former One Direction star
“We did drugs together, but I never brought him drugs or accepted money,” he said.
“I have messages where he offers me money because apparently he was used to offering money for everything, but I never took anything.”
“When I left, he wanted to give me some clothes so I could remember being with him, but I left them behind the TV because I didn't want to take them with me.” They were gray sweatpants and a T-shirt .
“I told Liam that a best friend of mine wanted to meet him because he was a fan.” He said “yes” and after I left he showed up outside the place where I was staying, made it to the Half of the building and wanted us to go back to his hotel, but I told him I couldn't because I had to go there for work.
“I was supposed to start at 11.30am but had to arrive before then. That was the last time I saw him. He got into his taxi and drove off.'
Paiz is said to have grown up in Berazategui, a working-class neighborhood several miles south of the city center, The Mail previously reported.
In Berazategui he had a reputation for partying hard. Aldana, a childhood friend, told us: “Braian and I met at a rave eight years ago.
“He was an outgoing boy who liked to party and take ecstasy.”
Paiz began his career as a hairdresser in the film industry.
However, he recently tried to succeed as a model and actor by making a living as a waiter at Las Lilas.
The day after Liam's death, Paiz posted two selfies taken with the singer with the caption: “Fly high, Chief.” Thank you for enlightening me and entering my reality. I will always remember you. See you on the other side. He completed the tribute with a heart emoji.
The tender post sparked outrage from Liam's fans, who appeared to blame him for supplying at least some of the drugs that contributed to their idol's death.
One user commented, “You're a murderer.” Another said, “That's sick.” Paiz later turned off the comments to stop the tide of vitriol.
Paiz later posted another picture of himself with Liam, along with the rambling caption that insisted: “I'm going to clear my name.” . I AM NOT THE DEALER.'
Paiz and a 21-year-old hotel employee named Ezequiel David Pereyra remain under investigation by Argentine authorities.
He has surrendered his passport to police and is waiting to hear whether charges will be filed before a judge.
The third man charged is millionaire energy tycoon and friend of Payne, Roger “Rogelio” Nores, who denies “abandonment of a person resulting in death.”
The One Direction star's death sent shockwaves around the world and raised strong questions about the well-being of young artists thrust into the spotlight at a young age.
Payne first auditioned for “X Factor” when she was 14 years old.
