Chris Cornell’s Daughter Toni Slams TMZ for Posting Photos of Liam Payne’s Death

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

The 20-year-old called the outlet’s decision to air since-deleted photos of Payne “disgusting” — and opened up about her own exposure to “indescribably traumatic” photos of her father, who died by suicide when she was 12 years.

Payne died on Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hours later, TMZ shared a photo showing parts of his body, including his arm, waist and tattoos.

The daughter of Audioslave singer Cornell took to Instagram over the weekend to criticize 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 the tragic death of Liam Payne, I feel compelled to speak out about the disgusting and distressing photos published by TMZ, including graphic images of his hotel room and body,” Toni wrote to her 203,000 followers .

Chris Cornell’s daughter Toni slammed TMZ for publishing photographs of Liam Payne’s body after his death, while reflecting on her own heartbreaking experience of the same outlet sharing graphic images of her father after his death in 2017.

Toni Cornell (pictured) blasted the site’s decision to run since-deleted photos of Payne as “disgusting” – and spoke of her own exposure to “indescribably traumatic” photos of her father, who died by suicide when she was 12 years.

“After seeing these photos, I can’t help but reflect on my own experience when graphic images of my father’s death were also published by TMZ.

“When I was 12, I came across these photos while scrolling through my iPad, and it was indescribably traumatic, and it’s something I still carry with me to this day.

“TMZ still hasn’t chosen to have the decency, seven years later, to remove these photos from the Internet, and I think that’s something that should be done.”

“Although the images of Liam have since been deleted, that doesn’t mean anything.

“They should never have been sheltered in the first place, and it breaks my heart to think that her seven-year-old son, Bear, might one day meet them and suffer just like me.”

Toni then accused TMZ of “choosing sensationalism over basic human decency.”

“This is not how an artist or a father should be remembered,” she wrote. “I am 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, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, died by suicide on May 18, 2017 at the age of 52.

Payne died on Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hours later, TMZ shared a photo showing parts of her body, including her arm and waist. (Pictured: One of Payne’s latest selfies)

The daughter of Audioslave singer Cornell took to Instagram over the weekend to criticize the publication of the photograph, along with other images showing the One Direction star’s hotel room during his final days. (Pictured: Chris Cornell with his daughter Toni in 2015)

Chris Cornell, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, died by suicide on May 18, 2017 at the age of 52.

TMZ has since removed Payne’s photo — although its executive producer Michael Babcock also defended the decision to publish it in the first place.

Babcock said the image was shared in a bid to confirm reports the singer had died before police established his identity.

“There’s a balance, and it’s obviously a conversation that newsrooms around the world are having — you want to be sensitive to family and friends and also while working on a story,” Babcock told Fox 5 New York .

“When the information came in, the police hadn’t yet confirmed that it was Liam, so what was done on the TMZ site, there was a picture – didn’t show the full picture, didn’t show his face – but did show his his arm and his abdomen, where he has very recognizable tattoos, so it’s sort of used as a way to confirm, or match the tattoos to a at a time when the police had not yet confirmed his identity.

“And then once they did, obviously that photo was deleted.

“I mean, it’s just a terribly horrible, sad story. This is obviously something that shouldn’t have happened, and this guy still had so much life to live and we feel horrible for everyone.

The decision sparked widespread criticism from celebrities, including former X Factor contestant Rylan Clark who called TMZ a “disgrace” and pop star Alesia Cara who called the medium “disgusting”.

Payne died from “multiple injuries”, according to the autopsy.

(L to R) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Niall Horan of One Direction in 2015