Showbiz outlet TMZ has defended circulating an image of Liam Payne's dead body following severe criticism online.

Following huge backlash, TMZ decided to remove previously published photos of the body of Liam Payne, just hours after the singer had been found dead at a hotel in Argentina. Now, an exec at the publication has defended the initial decision to share the pictures, and explained why he did so.

Though the site is known to push ethical boundaries in obtaining its traffic-friendly scoops, it's a line that even it does not typically cross.