BBC presenter slammed by Liam Payne fans over 'cruel' and 'insensitive' comments about late singer

ok.co.uk:

Legendary news broadcaster Michael Buerk has criticised the BBC's coverage of Liam Payne's death, arguing that the tragic passing of the singer was given undue prominence.The 78 year old former news anchor expressed his views during a live interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, where he referred to Liam as a "drugged up, faded, boy band singer." Michael is perhaps most recognised for his reporting on the Ethiopian famine in the 80s, which inspired Sir Bob Geldof to organise the iconic Live Aid concert and the charity single Do They Know It's Christmas.

One Direction star Liam, who was just 31 at the time of his death, tragically fell from the third floor of his hotel balcony while in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16.

It's been alleged that a mix of substances were discovered in his hotel suite, including pink cocaine. However, as fans grieved over the star's heartbreaking death, Michael voiced his disapproval of the attention the singer's death received.

Speaking on the Today programme, he was asked about how foreign reporting has evolved since his days as a news presenter. Responding to the question, he said: "Last week, this programme decided that the most important thing that had happened in the world was that a drugged up faded boy band singer had fallen off a balcony," reports the Mirror. "Even the 10 O'clock News, which is normally good on these things, thought it was the second most important thing that happened in the world.