Showbiz news website TMZ has defended its decision to publish pictures of Liam Payne’s dead body following outcry from fans.
The American publication caused fury this week after it shared pictures showing the singer’s arm, waist and tattoos just hours after he fell 45ft from a balcony at a hotel in Argentina.
An image of the police tent that was set up over the One Direction star’s body at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires was also published.
Fans and celebrities, including former X factor contestant Rylan Clark, branded it a ‘disgrace’, with TMZ removing the images shortly after.
The website’s Executive Producer, Michael Babock, has since defended the decision to use the images, claiming they were trying to confirm reports Liam had died before police had established his identity.
Babock told Fox 5 New York: ‘There’s a balance, and that’s obviously a conversation that newsrooms across the have – you want to be sensitive to the family and to the friends and also while working a news story.
‘When the information was coming in, police had not yet confirmed that it was Liam, so what was done on the TMZ website, there was an image – did not show the full image, didn’t show his face – but that showed his arm and his abdomen, where he has some very recognisable tattoos, so that’s sort of used as a way to confirm, or to match up the tattoos at a point where police had not yet confirmed his identity. And then, once they did, obviously, that photo was removed.
‘I mean, it’s just a terribly horrific and sad story. It’s something obviously that shouldn’t have happened, and this guy had so much life left to live and you feel horrible for everybody.’
TMZ published the photos in an article shortly after news of the singer’s death emerged.
The article 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.’
The celebrity news website also subsequently amended the copy to say: ‘TMZ has seen a photo showing Liam’s body on the deck at the hotel with tables and chairs nearby.
‘You can clearly see his tattoos – a clock on his left forearm, and a scorpion on his abdomen – which helped us confirm early reports from witnesses.’
Former X factor contestant Rylan Clark criticised the decision to publish the photos.
He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘And TMZ f****** shame on you. Disgrace.’
Pop star Alesia Cara added: ‘You’re gross @TMZ’
The latest development comes as:
Yesterday, dramatic images of Payne’s hotel room surfaced following his death.
Payne was found dead by police who say they found the popstar’s medicines including clonazepam – a drug which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms and panic disorders.
The photos were published across the Argentinian media, including major broadsheets today and purport to show Payne’s suite at the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo.
There was a frantic call to 911 from hotel staff about ‘an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol’ who was ‘smashing up his room’ minutes before he died.
These photos inside the luxury suite, published by Argentinian magazine Clarin, appeared to confirm the troubling report about Payne’s mental state.
On a table, the surface was covered with tin foil, white powder, a lighter and scorch marks on the wooden surface.
A blackened aluminium drinks can lid appeared to have been heated and a smashed TV screen on a shelf bore the signs of a heavy impact whilst a half-empty Champagne flute was nearby.
Police later confirmed that after a search of the popstar’s room medicines like clonazepam were found – a drug which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms and panic disorders.
More candle and aluminum foil remains were found in the bathtub of Payne’s suite, the bottom of which was stained and had some burns.
In a tape of the 911 call from the hotel manager to police, he could be heard saying: ‘I’m calling from the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo, we have a guest who is over the top with drugs and is breaking up the entire room.
‘We need someone to come.’
The call then cuts off and on a second call, the manager adds ‘when he is conscious he is breaking up the room.
‘We need you to send someone, please’.
Payne suffered a huge blow just days before his tragic death – he was dropped by his record label Universal Music, the Mail can reveal.
Originally signed to Sony as part of One Direction, Liam penned a deal with Capitol Records, a label owned by Universal, in July 2016 when he launched his solo career at just 22 years old.
Liam was said to have been ‘thrilled’ when he signed to Capitol in what was understood to have been a very lucrative deal.
The label is a subsidiary of Universal, but in the company’s recent reshuffle he came under the main label.
The Universal Music Group tribute read: ‘We are devastated by the tragic passing of Liam Payne.
‘His legacy will live on through his music and the countless fans he inspired and who adored him.
‘We send our deepest condolences to Liam’s family and loved ones.’
Capitol Records reposted the statement as well.
Multiple sources have confirmed to MailOnline that the singer was axed by the record label.
A source said: ‘Liam’s advance was massive and he didn’t recoup [it].
‘Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically.’
It is understood that the release of his second album was put on hold prior to Universal dropping him.
Meanwhile, it can also be revealed that Liam’s PR resigned earlier this month, which left him without any publicity representation.
The resignation came as Liam’s ex-fiancé Maya Henry began legal proceedings against the singer after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her.
One source said: ‘It is like all of Liam’s music career that he had built up since he went solo eight years ago was crumbling, there was very little left for him.
‘It must have absolutely devastated him.’
Last night Payne’s One Direction bandmates broke their silence following his tragic death as they released an emotional statement.
In a joint statement last night signed from ‘Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry’, they said they were ‘completely devastated’.
‘In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,’ they said.
‘But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
‘The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
‘We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.’
Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik all later released separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
‘He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’
Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.
He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.
Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne’s son Bear if he ‘ever needs me’ and ‘tell him stories of how amazing his dad was’.
‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he wrote.
‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
‘I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.
‘Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.’
Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.
In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.
‘And I can’t explain you you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,’ he wrote.
‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherevere you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.
‘Love you bro.’
