Liam Payne’s family release statement criticising “lasting damage” of media coverage
A little over four months on from Liam Payne‘s passing on October 16th last year, the late singer’s family have released a statement criticising the media coverage of his death.
The former One Direction singer passed away after falling from a balcony on the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was later revealed by the prosecutor’s office that his cause of death was due to suffering multiple traumas as well as internal and external bleeding.
A toxicology report later determined that Payne had cocaine, alcohol and an antidepressant in his system at the time of his death. This element of the story prompted a swathe of undue rhetoric and conspiracy at the time when the story first broke.
Payne’s family have since spoken out and claimed that the reporting has caused “lasting damage”. In a public statement, they commented, “Liam’s death was an unspeakable tragedy. This is a time of tremendous grief and pain for those who knew and loved him. Liam ought to have had a long life ahead of him. Instead, Bear has lost his father, Geoff and Karen have lost their son, Ruth and Nicola have lost their brother and all of Liam’s friends and fans have lost someone they held very dear.”
The singer was honoured with a tribute at last night’s Brit Awards, but this was deemed duplicitous by many commentators. As the family statement continued: “The constant media attention and speculation which has accompanied the process has exacted indescribable, lasting damage on the family, particularly on Liam’s son who is trying to process emotions which no seven-year-old should have to experience.”
Throughout the process, they requested privacy and expressed a need to protect Payne’s son, Bear. However, they claim large fractions of the media failed them on this front.
As the statement concluded: “The family has always wished for privacy to grieve and asks that they be given the space and time to do so.”
Ending: “This weekend, at the Brit Awards, Liam was remembered for his phenomenal contribution to British music and for his wider, positive impact on millions of adoring fans the world over. We joined in that celebration of his life and will forever remember the joy that his music brought to the world.”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.