“Are You Really Part of It?” — Netizens Criticize Dan Wooton for Liam Payne Tribute Calling the Music Industry “Evil”

Journalist Dan Wootton has come under fire from netizens for his tribute to the late Liam Payne, who tragically passed away on October 16, 2024, after reportedly falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Following the announcement of Liam Payne’s death, Wootton took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his sorrow and honor the 31-year-old artist. Unfortunately, his choice of words in the tribute drew significant backlash from online users.

Specifically, Dan referred to the music industry as “evil”and characterized Payne’s death as a “waste of life.” This prompted a swift and negative reaction from users on X, who criticized Wootton for his seemingly callous remarks. Below are some notable responses:

“You wrote for the sun – bizarre and all the pop gossip. Doesn’t make that you part of it?”a user remarked on X.

“You would know since you’re part of the problem, you sick f*ck,”expressed another critic.

“You were part of the problem,”echoed another user on X.

A fan articulated why Wootton’s phrase “waste of life”was inappropriate in the context of Liam Payne’s passing:

“You know, you could’ve left out the ‘waste of life’ part. This is a tragedy. He was so young, and it reflects poorly on someone in the news industry to discuss it like this. I’ve not seen concrete details regarding his death, just that he fell from a hotel in Argentina. If his death is indeed linked to suicide, your wording shows a lack of empathy,”wrote the fan.

“If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black. The industry is evil? Damn right it is, and you were right in the middle of it all,”observed another user.

“What happened? Why is the music industry implicated?”questioned another on X.

“The music industry is not evil; it’s an odd statement to make in the wake of someone’s death,”remarked one netizen.

Conversely, some users rallied in support of Dan, commenting on the harsh realities of the music business.

“I think Dan is suggesting something intentional. My daughter immediately thought that as well: he had a history of depression, making the comment seem reasonable,”wrote a supporter on X.

“For Dan to declare any industry as evil, given his background in tabloids, is quite a statement,”commented another.

“There’s nothing strange about it. It’s accurate. The music industry is indeed evil. Do your research,”suggested another user.

Liam Payne once recounted “the most daunting celebrity experience” in the music world

In a discussion about his career, Liam Payne once opened up about one of the most unsettling experiences he faced involving music mogul Diddy. During a May 2017 appearance on Australian radio station KIIS FM, Payne recounted a memorable encounter with Diddy at a high-profile party.

He initially believed Diddy was the most personable figure amidst celebrities like Jay-Z and Leonardo DiCaprio. However, when he approached Diddy to introduce himself, he received a chilling reaction. Liam reflected:

“I walked over to chat with him and Jay-Z, and as I shook his hand, he just chuckled… the creepiest laugh I’ve ever heard… I felt a bit afraid of that man.”

He later described the incident as “the most daunting celebrity experience”he had ever encountered.

Liam shared this same story during his appearance on The Graham Norton Show, alongside Salma Hayek and David Williams, where he noted how Diddy had an unusually firm handshake and Jay-Z’s bodyguards physically moved him away at that same event.

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