TMZ has prompted mass backlash for posting a partial photo of Liam Payne’s dead body.
Marc Piasecki / GC Images
The One Direction singer, 31, was found dead in Argentina yesterday after falling from the third story of a hotel. Police were initially called to the scene following an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
Dave Benett / Dave Benett / Getty Images for Annabel’s
TMZ was one of the first outlets to report the news. The initial story read, “TMZ obtained a photo showing Liam’s body on a wooden deck at the hotel with tables and chairs nearby. We’re not showing the whole body, but you can clearly see his tattoo — a clock on his left forearm, and a scorpion on his abdomen.” Alongside this was portions of Liam’s arm and waist showing identifiable tattoos.
Dave J Hogan / Dave J. Hogan / Getty Images
TMZ has since removed the image from its coverage, but the photos had already begun to make the rounds online. Criticism was swift:
TMZ posting part of a photo of Liam Payne’s dead body in an article announcing his death is beyond deplorable. I can’t tell if I’m losing my mind lately or if society has always been this overtly morally decrepit
— Luc (@ellkay_) October 16, 2024
TMZ just did something more disgusting than I even thought they were capable of and the bar was already in hell
— bald ann dowd (@ali_sivi) October 16, 2024
It should be illegal to do what tmz have done! Frankly! There is no justification or public interest that warrants it!
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) October 16, 2024
The tabloid has faced ample criticism for its handling of celebrity deaths in the past. As per the Hollywood Reporter, a law enforcement tipped off TMZ on Kobe Bryant’s death before his wife, Vanessa, was told by the LAPD. Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, previously alleged on Twitter, “They paid off people in the hospital when my father passed. Couldn’t even fucking grieve for 20 minutes.”
BuzzFeed has reached out to TMZ for comment.
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