Piers Morgan has come underfire after discussing the death of Liam Payne.
The former One Direction singer tragically fell to his death aged 31 last week, falling from the balcony of his third floor hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The star died after suffering multiple traumas leading to an "internal and external haemorrhage". In the latest instalment of his YouTube programme, Piers was joined by Howie Mandel, Liam's friend and former X Factor co-star Katie Waissel, radio star James Barr and broadcaster Esther Krakue to discuss the devastating news.
Broadcaster Piers stated that Liam had substances "including cocaine, crack and benzodiazepine," in his system at the time of his death. Local reports claimed these were included in "pink cocaine" which is made up of drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
In the latest instalment of Uncensored, former America's Got Talent judge Howie said that while on shows such as Got Talent and X Factor "if we feel that somebody is going south a little bit, there is somebody to watch over them and talk to them." He added: "This is not a talent thing. In fact, Liam if he came to a talent thing, his outcome was great. The people who are rejected have the harder time."
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Piers Morgan Uncensored)He added that Liam had spoken openly about his issues with drugs and alcohol before getting clean. Piers commented: "Howie, let me bring in Katie – what I will say there about Liam, who I didn't know very well. I know some members of the band One Direction much better – Niall is a good friend of mine and so on. Clearly Niall and Harry Styles and Louis, they've all built incredibly successful solo careers, I've covered many boybands over the years, some of them end up doing better than others when they go solo."
Katie, who has since started legal training to become a lawyer has spoken openly about the lack of aftercare she and her co-stars received after appearing on the show in 2010. As Piers questioned what duty of care The X Factor had, Howie interrupted shouting: "Nothing, nothing, nothing." James Barr interrupted saying: "Yet these shows would describe these people as their family."
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Piers Morgan Uncensored)"Did she need help then?!" exclaimed Howie, shouting over Katie. Esther added: "When these people are becoming famous and they're getting the money that they want. But when you have the dark side of fame, that apparently becomes everyone else's fault." But he has since been met with backlash on social media for appearing to blame Liam.
"Do better... You should know better than to blame the victim," said one furious X, formerly known as Twitter user. A second went on to add: "Piers Morgan doesn't make any sense." A third wrote: "Yes a dark side of fame, but no not suddenly it is everyones fault. Fans/ public have known for a while how terrible the industry is. We have spoken out many times before. Liam is just the current artist to have something tragic happen. So many have passed under suspicious causes."
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Dave Benett/Getty Images)"The fact Piers and Howie were even considered 'talent' judges at one point in time without having an ounce of it themselves is bizarre, Leave Liam rest in peace, don't throw stones while living in a glass house," fumed another. A fifth added: "People have been screaming about the lack of care for minors & adults in this industry w/ little care or concern for their wellbeing. He took responsibility for his addictions but no one has taken responsibility for how the lack of care." Katie Waissel has since hit out, saying: "It was abhorrent from start to finish."
Since the news of Liam's death, over 60,000 people have signed an online petition, encouraging the government to enact legislation to safeguard musicians and their mental health, which fans have insisted be called "Liam's law."
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