TMZ news website boss defends decision to post ‘disgraceful’ pictures of Liam Payne’s dead body online

American website TMZ has stood by its decision to publish pictures of Liam Payne‘s dead body in the immediate aftermath of his death.

TMZ was the first to break the news of the One Direction singer’s death on October 16. It published a report revealing the tragic news, and also shared pictures of Liam’s body.

Following intense backlash, the pictures were removed. Now it’s executive producer has defended the decision to publish the harrowing pictures.

The publication of images of the star’s dead body were blasted by Liam Payne fans online (Credit: Splash News)

Liam Payne death: Pictures of his dead body posted online

Late on Wednesday night, TMZ shared the tragic news of Liam’s death. Two pictures of the star’s body also featured in the report.

The pictures showed the singer’s arm, waist and tattoos. The publication said that it shared the pictures to confirm reports that he had died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

An image of the red police tent that was set up over Liam’s body at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires was also published.

Posting on Twitter initially, the site said: “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.”

However, after intense backlash, the pictures were removed. The copy was also changed 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.”

TMZ’s exec producer Michael Babcock defended the decision to share the images (Credit: YouTube)

TMZ boss breaks silence

The site’s executive producer Michael Babcock defended the decision to use the images while appearing on Fox 5 last night (October 17).

In a clip on YouTube, he said: “There’s a balance. And that’s obviously a conversation that newsrooms across the world have. You want to be sensitive to the family and to the friends and also while working a news story.”

He then launched a defence over publishing the pictures. “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 – we 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.”

Still not offering an apology, Babcock added: “I mean, it’s just a terribly horrific and sad story. It’s something obviously that shouldn’t have happened. This guy had so much life left to live and you feel horrible for everybody.

Liam fans who watched the clip were quick to blast the non-apology.

“Are they really still trying to justify putting pictures of a dead body on their website?” said one.

Another added: “TMZ is disgraceful and disgusting and have no respect whatsoever and didn’t even bother to apologise for posting those horrendous pictures!!! Will never watch them again!!”

“It’s not TMZ’s job to ‘identify’ the body,” a third said. “That is the job of the police/coroner to confirm. Revolting way to justify.”

Liam Payne was aged 31 when he died (Credit: Splash News)

Fan backlash

After the pictures were originally published, there were calls for the website to be shut down.

One fan commented: “You should’ve not posted his pictures. Have some shame.” A second said: “Please, there’s no need to show those pictures. This will affect so many people.”

Another then added: “You posting pictures of his dead body is disrespectful and weird btw DO BETTER!!” How insensitive of you to post those pictures,” said another. “Disgraceful from you posting his body,” another added.

Others were thinking of Liam’s young son Bear, who he shares with singer Cheryl Tweedy.

“Liam Payne’s family need to sue TMZ, because there is a seven-year-old boy that will one day know there are published pictures of part of his dead father’s body available online which is completely unacceptable,” said another.

Once the pictures were removed, the backlash still continued.

One fan commented: “At least you had the decency to remove the pictures you took delight in showing. Should never have shown them at all.”