Michael Buerk sparks controversy after calling Liam Payne a "drugged-up faded boyband singer"

Veteran BBC journalist Michael Buerk has caused a stir after referring to former One Direction star Liam Payne as a "drugged-up faded boyband singer" on Thursday's BBC Radio 4 Today show.

The comment came as Buerk reflected on how foreign reporting has changed over the years, marking 40 years since his iconic 1984 report on the Ethiopian famine.

Buerk criticized the modern media's focus, pointing to the extensive coverage of Payne's tragic death last week, following his fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

Payne, who rose to international fame with One Direction on The X Factor, passed away at 31. A toxicology report revealed multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death. Buerk's remarks have divided listeners, with many expressing surprise at his choice of words, labeling them as "disdainful."

Fans of Payne, as well as social media users on platform X, expressed their disappointment over Buerk's comments, while others echoed his critique of the media's focus on celebrity deaths.