Wow. Liam Payne‘s friend Roger Nores just sued his father Geoff Payne! What?!
As Perezcious readers know, Roger is one of five people who has been charged in connection to the One Direction alum’s death. He was accused of abandoning the singer after leaving him at the hotel where he died just an hour before his fatal fall. Because of this, he was also charged with negligent homicide. He has vehemently denied the allegations.
Now, in his fight to clear his name, he’s going after his pal’s father! Roger filed a defamation lawsuit on Thursday, according to documents obtained by TMZ, accusing Geoff of smearing him in the media after the pop star’s death and claiming he was meant to be taking care of the performer at the time.
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The Argentinian businessman claimed Geoff submitted a sworn declaration to Buenos Aires police in which he said Roger had “full responsibility for Liam’s care during this last period when I was not there.” But Roger argued he “never agreed to be and was never the caretaker of Liam.” While they were “dear friends” and supported each other, he insisted he was not paid to look after the Strip That Down vocalist.
He also accused Geoff of failing to share emails between them with authorities that he believes would have taken the blame off of him. In one, dated August 2024, Roger told Geoff he “could not further as a friend devote the same time to support Liam” and urged Geoff to do something to help his son, seemingly referring to Liam’s addiction issues. Apparently, they then spoke in September 2024 and Roger tried to convince Geoff to travel to Wellington, Florida, where the 31-year-old was living, and to take care of his son. But Roger does not think Geoff ever came.
Roger also noted that Geoff’s so-called false statements where quickly blasted to the public thanks to TMZ, which obtained documents containing the claims about Roger and then featured them in the documentary, Liam Payne: Who’s to Blame? Guess that’s where his whole smear campaign complaint comes from — even though Roger was also interviewed for the doc.
Furthermore, Roger insisted that he “never provided Liam with any recreational drugs and never controlled any prescribed medications taken by Liam.” So, yeah, he wants to take no blame for any of this!
Who does he think is responsible?? He pointed fingers at a few people, aside from just Geoff. First up, he claimed Geoff trusted one of Liam’s bodyguards, Bledar Vata, to be a “paid caretaker” but when Liam fired him, “Geoff as self declared caretaker of Liam never provided for a temporary or new bodyguard caretaker.”
He also claimed Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, whom he lived with in Florida and who was traveling with him shortly before his death, had “a unique capacity, opportunity and superior knowledge of Liam’s activities and needs.” Jeez. He didn’t lay direct blame on her, but this is still harsh.
Regardless of who he thinks is responsible, Roger concluded his lawsuit by arguing that the heartthrob was fully independent, even though he’d struggled with addiction for years and had gone in and out of treatment. He told TMZ:
“Geoff needs to backtrack on his sworn statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or care taker. 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.”
He also said he would donate any money he’s potentially awarded from this lawsuit to Liam’s son, Bear. Well, guess that’s good… It’s bad enough he’s going after Liam’s grieving father, at least he’s not trying to profit off this, too.
Thoughts? Do U think Roger has a case here? Tell us in the comments (below).
[Image via WENN]