Chris Cornell’s 20-year-old daughter Toni has criticized TMZ for posting photos depicting the death scene of former One Direction member Liam Payne, comparing it to the outlet’s coverage of her own father’s passing in 2017.
Following Payne’s death on October 17th, TMZ initially published a purported photo of Payne’s arm and waist after his fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, identifying the singer with his tattoos. While the outlet removed the image after receiving widespread criticism, that came too late for Toni Cornell, who took to her Instagram Stories to voice her disgust with TMZ’s decision to post the image in the first place.
Toni wrote the following on her Instagram Stories:
“In the wake of Liam Payne’s tragic passing, I feel compelled to speak out about the disgusting, distressing photos released by TMZ including graphic images of his hotel room and body. Having seen those photos, I can’t help but reflect on my own experience when graphic images of my father’s death were also published by TMZ. As a 12-year-old, I stumbled upon those pictures while scrolling through my iPad, and it was indescribably traumatizing, and something I still carry with me to this day. TMZ still has not chosen to have the decency, seven years later, to remove those photos from the internet, and it is something I believe should be done. While the images of Liam have since been taken down, it means nothing. They should never have been put up in the first place, and it breaks my heart to think that his 7 year old son, Bear, might one day come across them and suffer exactly as I did. It is still shocking to me that the privacy of human beings and their families fail to be respected by the public and the media, especially in times of human loss, choosing sensationalism over basic human decency. This isn’t how an artist or a father should be remembered. I’m sending so much love and support to Liam’s family and loved ones during this incredibly painful time. Rest in peace, Liam.”
Chris Cornell sadly took his own life at the age of 52 on May 18th, 2017, following a Soundgarden concert in Detroit. Toni, a singer herself, sang Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on Good Morning America a few months later in tribute to both her father and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington.
See a screen shot of Toni Cornell’s Instagram story below.