TMZ has come under fire for sharing an image purported to be of Liam Payne, the One Direction singer

TMZ faced widespread criticism for publishing an image claiming to show the body of Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer who allegedly died in a fall.

The outlet removed the image after backlash, with BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh condemning TMZ for exploiting a young man's death for clicks.

Initially, the site described the photo in detail, identifying Payne by his tattoos. However, after removing the image, TMZ edited the article to eliminate any references to the body without providing an explanation. 

Media ethics experts noted that while publishing images of deceased individuals can sometimes be justified, it must serve a significant public interest.

Kelly McBride from the Poynter Institute emphasized that without a clear journalistic purpose, outlets often face backlash and must reconsider their decisions.

Sean Elliot from the National Press Photographers Association added that determining the cultural significance of a death is a complex judgment that falls on the media outlet.