Piers Morgan is facing backlash for comments he made about the recent death of Liam Payne. The former One Direction star, 31, died tragically when he fell from his third-floor hotel room on October 16.
Police had originally been called to reports of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
Preliminary toxicology reports have revealed that Payne had “pink cocaine” in his system – a recreational drug featuring a toxic concoction including methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack.
Morgan was hosting a panel discussion on whether the entertainment industry and talent shows like X Factor, which launched the career of then-16-year-old Payne as part of One Direction, needed further safeguarding measures.
Payne’s X Factor co-star Katie Waissel, America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel, radio presenter James Barr, and journalist Esther Krakue joined Morgan for the discussion.
Waissel argued talent shows like X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent “do have a legal and moral duty of care”, even years after and if performers have moved on to pastures new.
Katie Waissel previously discussed Liam Payne’s death on GB News
GB News
The 38-year-old was visibly shocked at several comments made by Morgan and Mandel and later took to X to describe her experience on the Uncensored panel as “abhorrent from start to finish”.
Morgan asked: “At what point does Simon Cowell or the team on X Factor 15, 16 years ago have an ongoing duty of care to someone like Liam who’s now 31?”
Before Waissel could answer, Mandel interrupted shouting: “Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.”
Barr interjected: “Yet these shows would describe these people (contestants) as their family.”
Piers Morgan hosted the debate on his YouTube channel
PA
Mandel also claimed there were already sufficient safeguarding measures in place in talent shows: “If we feel that somebody is going south a little bit, there is somebody to watch over them and talk to them.”
However, Waissel alleged there was “no duty of care” when she competed with One Direction on 2010’s X Factor before adding that the show’s designated welfare officer was “absolutely unqualified beyond measure”.
Morgan challenged Waissel on her claims: “You came 10th on X Factor then you did another reality show, so clearly it couldn’t have been that awful…”
Waissel was also unimpressed with Morgan’s mention of Payne’s apparent “erratic behaviour” and questions of personal responsibility for the situation he found himself in.
The Uncensored host said: “Clearly Niall (Horan) and Harry Styles and Louis (Tomlinson), 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”.
Furious, Waissel responded: “I don’t need to play into this, I’m here to speak about the tragic loss of our dear friend Liam thank you very much.”
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This is factually incorrect as I placed 7th, and my placement on the show was of no relevance to the discussion of the tragic loss of a dear friend and negligence to duty of care for all of us on there during that time. Please fact check and whilst doing so, repost with dignity…
— Katie Waissel (@katiewaissel24) October 22, 2024
Barr later said on X: “It’s no surprise that Howie and Piers Morgan want to defend the people that pay them – but a boy is dead and this entire debate centred around victim blaming.
“His post drew fury from Morgan who branded it “pathetic virtue-signalling drivel” before adding: “You regularly accepted payment to appear on our show that you now want to publicly trash, you shameless hypocrite.”
Meanwhile, Waissel also took to the social media platform to blast Morgan for his line of questioning, branding the experience as “abhorrent”.
She similarly hit back in response to a clip of the interview involving Mandel and Morgan: “This is factually incorrect as I placed 7th, and my placement on the show was of no relevance to the discussion of the tragic loss of a dear friend and negligence to duty of care for all of us on there during that time.
“Please fact check and whilst doing so, repost with dignity and respect. Many Thanks – KW.” (sic)