The images of Liam Payne's body were suddenly published, making fans extremely angry

Chris Cornell’s daughter Toni slams TMZ for publishing Liam Payne death photos

Chris Cornell’s daughter Toni has slammed TMZ for publishing photographs of Liam Payne’s body – while reminding fans that journalists at the outlet also shared snaps of her dad’s remains following his 2017 death.

The 20-year-old blasted the outlet’s decision to circulate since-deleted pictures of Payne as ‘disgusting’ – and opened up about her own exposure to ‘indescribably traumatizing’ photos of her father, who died by suicide when she was 12.

Payne passed away at the age of 31 on Wednesday after tumbling from a third-story balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hours later, TMZ shared a photograph showing parts of his body including his arm, waist and tattoos.

Audioslave singer Cornell’s daughter took to Instagram stories over the weekend to slam the publication of the photograph, along with other images showing the One Direction star’s hotel room during his final days.

‘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,’ Toni wrote to her 203,000 followers.

Chris Cornell’s daughter Toni has slammed TMZ for publishing photographs of Liam Payne’s body after he died, while reflecting on her own harrowing experience of the same outlet sharing graphic images of her father after he passed away in 2017

Toni Cornell (pictured) blasted the site’s decision to circulate since-deleted pictures of Payne as ‘disgusting’ – and opened up about her own exposure to ‘indescribably traumatizing’ photos of her father, who died by suicide when she was 12

‘Having seen those photos, I can’t help but reflect on my own experience when graphic images of my father’s death were also published by TMZ.

‘As a 12-year-old, I stumbled upon those pictures while scrolling through my iPad, and it was indescribably traumatizing, and something I still carry with me to this day.

‘TMZ still has not chosen to have the decency, seven years later, to remove those photos from the internet, and it is something I believe should be done.

‘While the images of Liam have since been taken down, it means nothing.

‘They should never have been put up in the first place, and it breaks my heart to think that his seven-year-old son, Bear, might one day come across them and suffer exactly as I did.’

Toni went on to accuse TMZ of ‘choosing sensationalism over basic human decency’.

‘This isn’t how an artist or a father should be remembered,’ she wrote. ‘I’m sending so much love and support to Liam’s family and loved ones during this incredibly painful time. Rest in peace, Liam.’

Toni’s father, who was known for being the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, died by suicide on May 18, 2017 at the age of 52.

Chris Cornell, who was known for being the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, died by suicide on May 18, 2017 at the age of 52

TMZ has since pulled the photograph of Payne – though its executive producer Michael Babcock also defended the decision to publish it in the first place.

Babcock said the image was shared in an attempt to confirm reports that the singer had died before police established his identity.

‘There’s a balance, and that’s obviously a conversation that newsrooms across the have – you want to be sensitive to the family and to the friends and also while working a news story,’ Babcock told Fox 5 New York.

‘When the information was coming in, police had not yet confirmed that it was Liam, so what was done on the TMZ website, there was an image – did not show the full image, didn’t show his face – but that showed his arm and his abdomen, where he has some very recognizable tattoos, so that’s sort of used as a way to confirm, or to match up the tattoos at a point where police had not yet confirmed his identity.

‘And then, once they did, obviously, that photo was removed.

‘I mean, it’s just a terribly horrific and sad story. It’s something obviously that shouldn’t have happened, and this guy had so much life left to live and you feel horrible for everybody.’

The decision drew widespread criticism from celebrities including former X Factor contestant Rylan Clark who branded TMZ a ‘disgrace’ and pop star Alesia Cara who called the outlet ‘gross’.

Payne died by ‘multiple injuries’, according to the post-mortem examination.