Showbiz website TMZ deletes photos of Liam Payne's dead body in wake of fans' fury

Showbiz website TMZ has faced backlash from fans after it published photos of Liam Payne 's dead body.

The American publication shared pictures which showed the singer's arm, waist and tattoos to confirm reports he had died after falling from a balcony at a hotel in Argentina.

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

The read: '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, TMZ quickly deleted the photos following a furious outcry from fans and celebrities who branded it a 'disgrace'.

The celebrity news website also subsequently amended the copy to say: '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.'

Former X factor contestant Rylan Clark criticised the decision to publish the photos.

He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'And TMZ f****** shame on you. Disgrace.'

Pop star Alesia Cara added: 'You're gross

The former One Direction Star died after falling from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood.

Police were contacted by a member of hotel staff who reported 'an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol '.

Shortly afterwards, workers heard a loud sound in the hotel's courtyard before the Wolverhampton-born singer's body was discovered just after 5pm local time.

The star was said to have been 'acting erratically in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop' before he 'had to be carried back to his room', according to local media.

Payne rose to stardom aged 16 after forming boy band One Direction on The X Factor in 2010 alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles.

Shocked fans gathered outside after police cordoned off the area with forensic investigators seen entering and exiting in white protective suits and blue gloves.

They were seen lighting candles and adorning the side of the road with flowers in an impromptu vigil as they paid tribute to the beloved music star.

Police in Argentina had received a call from a worker at the hotel urgently requesting help with an intoxicated guest, according to audio related to the case obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry.

The worker said: 'When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone.'

Emergency medical services director Alberto Crescenti said Payne had suffered 'very serious injuries after falling from a third floor into an internal courtyard'.

'We verified his identity using the passport he had,' he added.

His body was transported to a local morgue where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Payne had arrived in Argentina earlier this month to attend his ex-bandmate Niall Horan's concert.

The star's final Snapchat post showed him happily posing with his partner Kate Cassidy as they looked into a mirror - a picture which was originally taken last August.

Further posts from the final moments of Payne's life showed him enjoying lunch in his hotel room, where he revealed the pair had been 'waking up at 1pm every day' and deciding on Forest Gump as a Halloween costume.

Payne formed boy band One Direction in 2010, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, after they individually auditioned for The X Factor.

After becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the world with five albums and four world tours, One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.