Fans are furious as Ant Middleton asks about friend Liam Payne’s death live on air

A TV show has sparked outrage after Ant Middleton was asked about his friend Liam Payne live on air moments after finding out about his death.

On Wednesday, October 16, it was announced that the One Direction singer and former X Factor star had died at the age of 31 after falling from a balcony at the Hotel Casa Sur in Buenos Aires, Argentina, state police said.

Police went to the hotel after receiving an emergency call. Alberto Crescenti, head of SAME emergency medical services in Buenos Aires, highlighted that the late musician suffered “extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death”.

During an interview on Australia’s Channel 7 TV show Sunrise, former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Middleton, 44, was speaking to the hosts about tackling the challenge of climbing the world’s second-highest mountain.

However, one of the hosts interrupted the conversation to break the news of Payne’s death.

“We know you’re here to talk about this other project, but let’s put that aside for a moment because we need to know your opinion on the Liam Payne news,” she said. — You just heard this news.

Middleton had a shocked expression on her face when the presenter asked: ‘Have you spoken to Liam recently?’

Middleton then responded: ‘Yes, I speak to Liam often, he’s a good friend of mine. And wow, I’m shocked, this is obviously the first time I’ve heard of this.

The presenter interrupted to offer condolences, saying she was sorry.

Middleton shook her head, continuing: ‘Um, and, wow. I really don’t know what to say about this. I will have to contact the relevant people to find out what happened to my good friend.

‘But I’m filming at the moment, as you can see, that’s why I’m wet and there’s a bit of noise around me. But yes, color…my condolences and I hope they find out what happened.’

The show’s other host talked more about Payne, touching on the fact that although he was best known as an artist, to Middleton he was a friend.

‘What kind of person was Liam? What kind of friend? he asked.

Having starred together in the 2019 Sky TV show Ant Middleton and Liam Payne: Straight Talking, the former UK Special Forces soldier said Payne was a “confident” person.

‘He always, after we filmed Straight Talking with Ant Middleton, he was my first celebrity guest and we formed a brotherhood. He was like a little brother to me. He would trust me, I would see him,” he said.

“There were some problems there, but nothing that a young celebrity of his caliber wouldn’t suffer. So I’m really shocked at the moment, wow. Yes. I really don’t know what to say.

Middleton added that Payne had a “lovely aura around him,” saying he was a “lovely guy” who had “positive energy around him.”

‘He was a visionary. He always thought and dreamed big. And that’s why he got to where he was. And he was loved. He was one of those band members that you know, he was the glue, I believe he was the glue of One Direction.

‘It’s just that. It’s a shame to see such a positive individual die so young.”

The video clip of Middleton speaking about Payne was shared on YouTube, where several people expressed their anger at the way he was informed of his friend’s death live.

Bluetreacle said they found it ‘very insensitive of the interviewers to keep letting him talk’, while lifenothingbutasong stated they found the conversation ‘seriously insensitive’.

YouTube user Sofialu226 was angered that the presenters ‘bombarded him with questions’ shortly after hearing the news, while MarcusN-kp1jn expressed his opinion that it was ‘tacky’.

Charlene-m6z also added, “You don’t question someone like that on air after he just found out his friend died, he didn’t come for that interview, have some integrity!”

Tributes have been pouring in for Payne following the news of his death, with stars including Dermot O’Leary, Olly Murs and Cher Lloyd honoring his memory.

Harry Styles’ mother Anne Twist shared an Instagram post of a broken heart emoji, writing in her caption: ‘Just a boy…💔.’

Katie Waissel, who appeared on the same series of The X Factor as One Direction, said her “heart is completely broken”.

JLS singer Marvin Humes said he was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by the news, stating: ‘Liam, you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it, bro.’

Former X Factor presenter O’Leary recalled Payne’s audition for The X Factor aged 14, writing: ‘He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful and was always humble. Sending love and prayers to your family. Dx.’

Murs also shared: ‘Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams, so to see his life now end at such a young age is a huge blow, I’m really devastated and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear has lost a father. ‘

Metro.co.uk has contacted Channel 7 for comment.

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