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After Liam Payne fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday (October 16th), TMZ tastelessly published a cropped photo of the One Direction singer’s body. The celebrity tabloid immediately drew backlash for the decision, and responded by quietly taking down the photo.
The site initially published a purported image of Payne’s arm and waist, which they identified with his tattoos. “TMZ obtained a photo showing Liam’s body on a wooden deck at the hotel with tables and chairs nearby,” the accompanying copy read. “We’re not showing the whole body, but you can clearly see his tattoos — a clock on his left forearm, and a scorpion on his abdomen.”
“TMZ is trying to get clicks and ad money off of a young man’s dead body just minutes after the news of his death,” wrote BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh. “Imagine being a member of Liam Payne’s family and seeing this.”
Singer Alessia Cara succinctly added, “You’re gross @TMZ.”
As these sentiments spread across social media, TMZ removed the image without explanation and edited the article to read, “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.”
In addition, TMZ ran a photo of the police tent surrounding Payne’s body to block its view from photographers and other prying eyes. As of publishing, that image remains on the website.
Hours later, CNN ran audio of a 911 call made by a hotel manager before Payne’s fall. TMZ republished the recording in an article of their own. In comparison to the photo of Payne’s body, however, the 911 call provides the context of the manager requesting help out of concern for a guest who was “intoxicated on alcohol and drugs” and “breaking everything” in his room.
This is hardly the first time TMZ has drawn controversy for its questionable practices. Among several instances is the time when the site reported information redacted from the coroner’s report for Chester Bennington’s 2017 death.
More recently, TMZ was criticized for breaking the story of Kobe Bryant and his daughter’s death in a 2020 helicopter crash before officers could confirm the identities of the victims and notify their family members.
TMZ is trying to get clicks and ad money off of a young man's dead body just minutes after the news of his death.
Imagine being a member of Liam Payne's family and seeing this. https://t.co/BEWitmiNFb
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) October 16, 2024
you’re gross @TMZ
— ac (@alessiacara) October 16, 2024
TMZ being like “yeah we obtained a picture of liam payne’s dead body” what the fuck is wrong with them literally pic.twitter.com/tCDAcWM0cR
— delphine (@seeitinmymind) October 16, 2024
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