TMZ shared pictures of Liam Payne's body before being slammed by fans

The American celebrity news website published photographs showing parts of the 31-year-old's arm and waist.

TMZ have been slammed after they shared pictures of Liam Payne's body following his tragic death in Argentina on Wednesday.

The American celebrity news website published photographs showing parts of the 31-year-old's arm and waist. It showed the One Direction star's tattoos which helped them confirm the reports that he had passed away after he fell from a third floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.

The site also posted a picture of a cops tent that had been placed over Liam's body. They wrote: "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."

But after facing backlash on social media, TMZ removed the photos of Liam's body, reports the Mirror.

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." Among those criticising TMZ for initially publishing the photos was Rylan Clark who took to X, formerly called Twitter, to write: "And TMZ f**king shame on you. Disgrace."

Another user said: "TMZ posting part of a photo of Liam Payne's dead body in an article announcing his death is beyond deplorable. I can't tell if I'm losing my mind lately or if society has always been this overtly morally decrepit."

One user said: "No matter how you felt about liam payne, posting pictures of his dead body is f**king mental." Singer Alessia Cara wrote: "you're gross @TMZ." One commented: "I know we complain about TMZ a lot but they really surprise me every time at how insensitive they can be." Someone else said: "The world has lost the value of respect."

READ MORE: One Direction star Liam Payne dies aged 31 after hotel fall

Dozens of One Direction fans flocked from across Buenos Aires to the Casa Sur Hotel after the news of Liam's death broke, forming lines that spilled into the cordoned-off street outside the hotel where police stood sentinel. Forensic investigators were seen exiting the hotel, from where the singer's body was removed around three hours after the fall.

Young women filming with their cellphones expressed shock and heartbreak as a makeshift memorial with rows of candles and bouquets quickly grew outside the hotel. "I didn't think he was going to die so young," 21-year-old Isabella Milesi told the Associated Press.

"I've always loved One Direction since I was little," said 18-year-old Juana Relh, another fan outside Liam's hotel. "To see that he died and that there will never be another reunion of the boys is unbelievable, it kills me."

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