A TV programme 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 aged 31 after falling from a balcony at Hotel Casa Sur in Buenos Aires, Argentina, state police said.
The police went to the hotel after receiving an emergency call. Alberto Crescenti, the head of the Buenos Aires medical emergency services SAME, outlined that the late musician suffered ‘extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death’.
During an interview on Channel 7’s TV show Sunrise in Australia, former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Middleton, 44, was speaking to the presenters about taking on the challenge of climbing the world’s second-highest mountain.
However, one of the hosts then interrupted their conversation to address the news of Payne’s death.
‘We know that you are here to talk about this other project, but we’re going to put that to one side for just a moment, because we have to get your thoughts on the news of Liam Payne,’ she said. ‘You’ve only just heard this news yourself.’
Middleton had a shocked expression on his face as the presenter asked: ‘You recently spoke with Liam?’
Middleton then responded: ‘Yeah I speak to Liam quite often, he’s a good friend of mine. And, wow, I’m shocked, this is obviously the first I’m hearing of it.’
The presenter interjected to offer condolences, saying that she was ‘so sorry’.
Middleton shook his head, continuing: ‘Um, and, wow. I don’t really know what to say about that. I’m going to have to make sure that I reach out to the relevant people to find out what’s happened to my good friend.
‘But I’m away filming at the moment as you can see, that’s why I’m wet and there’s a bit of noise around me. But yeah, cor… my condolences and I hope they find out what’s gone on.’
The other presenter on the programme spoke further about Payne, addressing the fact that while he was best-known as a performer, to Middleton he was a friend.
‘What sort of a person was Liam? What sort of a friend?’ he asked.
Having starred together in the 2019 Sky TV programme Ant Middleton and Liam Payne: Straight Talking, the former UK Special Forces soldier said that 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 younger brother to me. He would confide in me, I’d go round and see him,’ he said.
‘There were some issues there, but nothing that a young celebrity at his calibre wouldn’t suffer from. So I’m just shocked at the moment really, wow. Yeah. Don’t really know what to say.’
Middleton added that Payne had a ‘lovely aura around him’, saying that 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, was the glue, I believe was the glue of One Direction.
‘It’s just, yeah. 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 over the way that he was informed of his friend’s death live on-air.
Bluetreacle said that they found is ‘very insensitive from the interviewers to keep letting him talk’, while lifenothingbutasong stated they found the conversation ‘seriously insensitive’.
YouTube user Sofialu226 fumed over the presenters ‘bombing him with questions’ right after finding out the news, while MarcusN-kp1jn expressed their opinion that it was ‘tacky’.
Charlene-m6z also added: ‘You don’t quiz someone like that on air after they’ve just found out their friend died they 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 honouring his memory.
Harry Styles’ mum Anne Twist shared a post on Instagram 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 that her ‘heart is completely torn to shreds’.
JLS singer Marvin Humes said that he was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by the news, stating: ‘Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro.’
Former X Factor host O’Leary recalled Payne auditioning for The X Factor at 14 years old, writing: ‘He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble. Sending love and prayers to his family. Dx.’
Murs also shared: ‘Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear losing a dad.’
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Metro.co.uk has contacted Channel 7 for comment.