Warning: This article features information some readers may find distressing
Fans were horrified after TMZ posted pictures of One Direction star Liam Payne’s body on their website after his sudden death at age 31.
The celebrity gossip site received huge backlash after sharing the since-deleted images of the singer showing his identifiable tattoos.
Despite the outlet removing the images from their initial article, fans were upset to see the graphic photos on the internet without warning.
One user wrote on X: “TMZ posting part of a photo of Liam Payne’s dead body in an article announcing his death is beyond deplorable.”
They continued: “I can’t tell if I’m losing my mind lately or if society has always been this overtly morally decrepit”.
Another said the outlet “thought nothing of his child or the rest of his family”.
Others suggested: “If they didn't post any photo y'all would be discrediting TMZ.”
“That Liam Payne news is shocking,” one fan wrote.
“And so is the fact that, instead of just breaking the news, TMZ went with "here are a few pictures of his dead body - but we aren't showing the whole thing so that's ok".
Singer Alessia Cara also called out the website, tweeting “You’re gross @TMZ”.
Liam was 31 years old. He leaves behind a son, Bear, aged seven, and his girlfriend of two years Kate Cassidy.
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