Toni Cornell, daughter of late rock legend Chris Cornell, has publicly criticized TMZ for its publication of distressing images following the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne. Payne, who passed away last week in Buenos Aires, had images of his hotel room and body circulated by the media outlet, sparking outrage. Toni Cornell, who experienced a similar trauma after her father's death, shared her thoughts in a heartfelt statement on Instagram Stories, as reported by NME.
“In the wake of Liam Payne’s tragic passing, I feel compelled to speak out about the disgusting, distressing photos released by TMZ, including graphic images of his hotel room and body,” Cornell wrote. Recalling her own experience, she shared how, at just 12 years old, she accidentally stumbled upon graphic images of her father’s death while scrolling through her iPad. "It was indescribably traumatizing, and something I still carry with me to this day," she added.
Chris Cornell, frontman for Soundgarden and Audioslave, tragically died by suicide in 2017, and images from his death were also published by TMZ. Toni has long condemned the outlet for failing to remove those photos from the internet. Seven years later, she noted in her statement that TMZ still hasn’t taken down the images of her father, calling for the media to have more empathy in such sensitive situations.
Toni emphasized that, although the images of Payne have since been removed, the damage had already been done. “It means nothing. They should never have been put up in the first place," she said, expressing concern that Payne’s 7-year-old son, Bear, could one day come across those images and experience the same trauma she did.
Payne’s death has shocked the music world, and several figures have spoken out about the media’s handling of his passing. Cheryl Cole, Payne’s former partner and the mother of his son, also voiced her outrage over the media coverage. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she expressed concern for their child and the exploitation of Payne's death by the media. “What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future,” she wrote.
Cole went on to implore media outlets and individuals to reconsider the impact of their actions, asking them to think about the harm being caused to the loved ones left behind. “I am begging you to consider what use some of these reports are serving, other than to cause further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces,” she added.
Liam Payne, who was 31 years old, died after falling from his hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires. His passing has left fans and friends devastated, and all surviving members of One Direction shared their tributes to him in a joint statement. “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” the band said. “We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam.”
Toni Cornell’s statement serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching effects that such insensitive media coverage can have on grieving families. Both she and Cole are calling for greater respect and dignity for the deceased and their loved ones.
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