Liam Payne fans criticize TMZ for posting alleged photos of his body

TMZ is facing significant backlash after it allegedly published photos of Liam Payne's body following his tragic death on Wednesday. The outlet shared images that purportedly confirmed Payne's identity by showcasing his tattoos, including a clock on his left forearm and a scorpion on his abdomen. These images, which were later removed, sparked outrage among Payne's fans and peers, with many accusing TMZ of disrespect and exploitation.

Singer Alessia Cara, who previously collaborated with Payne, condemned the photos on social media, calling TMZ "gross" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Other fans and celebrities echoed her sentiment, with some calling for the outlet to be deplatformed and criticizing its handling of such sensitive material.

TMZ has yet to address the criticism directly, but the photos have since been taken down from their site. Payne, who was 31, died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hotel staff had reportedly alerted police before the incident, suspecting that Payne was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The investigation into his death is ongoing.