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

TMZ is facing intense backlash after allegedly publishing photos of Liam Payne’s body following his tragic death on Wednesday. The outlet shared images that allegedly confirmed Payne’s identity by showing his tattoos, including a clock on his left forearm and a scorpion on his stomach. These images, which were later removed, sparked outrage among Payne’s fans and colleagues, with many accusing TMZ of disrespect and exploitation.

Singer Alessia Cara, who previously collaborated with Payne, condemned the photos on social media, calling TMZ “disgusting” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Other fans and celebrities shared their opinions, with some calling for the channel to be removed from its platform and criticizing its handling of such sensitive material.

TMZ has not addressed the criticism directly, but the photos have since been removed from the site. Payne, 31, died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hotel staff reportedly alerted police before the incident and suspected Payne was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The investigation into his death is ongoing.