Veteran newsreader Michael Buerk was slammed after he described the late Liam Payne as a "drugged-up, faded, boy band singer".
He was criticising the BBC's coverage of the One Direction star's death after he fell 45ft from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony last week. Asked on the Radio 4's Today programme about how foreign journalism had changed, he said: "There was more of an appetite for seriousness.
"Only last week this programme decided the most important thing that had happened was that a drugged-up, faded, boy band singer had fallen off a balcony. Even the 10 O'clock News thought it was the second most important thing that happened in the world."
READ MORE: Liam Payne fans slam 'disgusting' new show about singer just days after death
Click for more brilliant Daily Star showbiz stories
His cruel comments were slammed.
One critic of Mr Buerk, 78, compared the journalist to "a dinosaur". While stand-up comic and novelist Jenny Eclair simply replied: "Urgh".
Another listener said: "Blimey. Michael Buerk on #R4today expressing his surprise that the death of a 'drugged-up fading boyband member' led the news. He seemed so ... disdainful. There was no need for him to be so dismissive, it just felt sneery."
However, some others supported Michael's views. One said: "Thanks, Mr Beurk, for putting into perspective on R4 the hyperbole over Liam Payne. While not wishing to speak ill of the dead, the media overkill at such a time was ridiculous."
And another said: "The UK seems to have lost any sense of seriousness preferring fascination with fame, frivolity and froth."
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here.
English (US) ·