- The news outlet shared two pictures of Payne in the immediate aftermath of his fatal fall from a third floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel
- The website’s decision to share the pictures has sparked a furious backlash online
- TMZ later removed the pictures from their website
Tabloid celebrity news website TMZ is facing a furious backlash online, following their decision to publish pictures featuring parts of Liam Payne’s dead body, shortly after the former One Direction star had tragically fallen from a third floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The news of Payne’s death had barely broken before the pictures were made available by the gossip site, prompting a huge backlash online from celebrities and fans alike.
Canadian popstar Alessia Cara simply posted “You’re gross, TMZ” on her X account, generating over 13,000 reposts at the time of writing, with over 128,000 people liking the post.
Music writer and broadcaster Matt Charlton, meanwhile, labeled TMZ’s decision to publish the photos as, “one of the most irresponsible bits of journalism I’ve ever seen” before adding, “These people are the worst example of humanity.”
The backlash was widespread across social media, with countless users sharing their messages of disgust on X.
TMZ have since removed the pictures, which showed Payne’s arm and part of what appeared to be his lower torso, from their website.
A large crowd of grieving One Direction fans have gathered outside the Casa Sur Hotel, where Payne had been staying, to mourn the singer, lighting candles and singing One Direction songs in tribute to him.
