BBC’s Michael Buerk slammed for calling Liam Payne ‘drugged up, faded boyband singer’

Michael Buerk has faced aggravated backlash for his statement of former One Direction member Liam Payne arsenic a ‘drugged up, faded lad set singer’.

Speaking connected Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning, the BBC presenter, 78, was discussing the alteration successful overseas reporting implicit the years, and took purpose astatine quality sites – specified arsenic the BBC radio amusement helium was speaking connected – for prioritising the quality of Payne’s decease arsenic a apical story.

Payne died astatine the property of 31 aft falling from the third-floor of his edifice country successful Buenos Aires connected October 16.

Since, there’s been an outpouring of grief from the euphony industry, fans, and friends, with members of One Direction paying tribute.

Much treatment has circulated astir the circumstances of his death, with preliminary investigations suggesting determination could person been drugs successful his strategy at the time.

Many person responded with daze and sadness astatine the news, truthful Buerk sparked backlash with his statement of Payne.

When asked however overseas reporting has changed implicit the years, helium said it’s changed a lot, 1 facet of that being that determination utilized to beryllium ‘more of an appetite for seriousness’ successful the news.

Using Payne’s decease – which deed headlines crossed the globe past week – arsenic an illustration of reporting priorities, helium said: ‘It was lone past week that I deliberation this programme decided that the astir important happening that had happened successful the satellite was that a drugged up, faded lad set vocalist had fallen disconnected a balcony.’

He continued: ‘The 10 o’clock news, which is usually bully connected these things, thought it was the 2nd astir important happening that had happened successful the world.’

Many took offence astatine his dismissive statement of Payne, arsenic @jennylandreth took to societal media and said: ‘Blimey. Michael Buerk connected #R4today expressing his astonishment (?) that the decease of a ‘drugged up fading boyband member’ led the news. He seemed truthful … disdainful.’

‘Faded, drugged up popular star’ – Michael Buerk – wow,’ said @AngelaFwrites, portion @JoanneWorstenc4 said: ‘What a nasty remark from Michael Buerk.’

@LL18again added: ‘This is atrocious and besides not existent astir Liam Payne.’

This period marks 40 years since Buerk’s movie study connected the Ethiopia famine for the BBC, which sparked an outpouring of foundation arsenic Bob Geldof’s Live Aid performance came to be, raising £120million for the country.

He reported from implicit 50 countries successful his vocation arsenic a overseas correspondent, and became 1 of the BBC’s main anchors for the 9 o’clock news.

He announced his status from quality presenting astatine the extremity of 2002, but helium continues to contiguous Radio 4’s unrecorded treatment amusement Moral Maze.

Metro has reached retired to Michael Buerk’s representatives for comment. 

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