Yahoo News BBC’s Michael Buerk calls Liam Payne a ‘drugged-up faded boyband singer’ on Radio 4
Former One Direction singer Liam Payne died aged 31 when he fell from a balcony in Argentina
The BBC's Michael Buerk has called Liam Payne a "drugged-up faded boyband singer" on Thursday's Today show.
Wednesday marked 40 years since the 78-year-old British journalist's iconic BBC News report on the famine in Ethiopia shocked the world on 23 October in 1984 as 85,000 people faced starvation.
His emotional interview with frontline Red Cross nurse Claire Bertschinger prompted change, with pop star Bob Geldof leading the way with his launch of Band Aid and Live Aid which raised £150m that is estimated to have saved two million lives.
On Thursday's BBC Radio 4 Today programme, British journalist Amol Rajan asked Buerk how foreign reporting had changed over the years.
Buerk, who presents BBC show The Moral Maze on Radio 4, said the news agenda had changed, giving the example of the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne that has been in the headlines across the world since Wednesday last week.
He died aged 31 of multiple traumas as a result of falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina and it has since been reported Payne had multiple drugs in his system, according to an initial toxicology report.
The award-winning journalist divided listeners over his choice of words, calling the former One Direction star a "drugged-up faded boyband singer".
Liam Payne a 'drugged-up faded boyband singer'
He said on Radio 4's Today show: "I think it's really different. I'm looking at television in particular... There was more of an appetite for seriousness."
He went onto explain his point: "It was only last week I think this programme decided that the most important thing that happened in the world was that a drugged-up faded boyband singer had fallen off a balcony.
"Even the 10 o'clock news which normally are good on these things thought it was the second most important thing that had happened in the world.
"And I think there was a wider agenda or wider appetite if you look at the news these days, they seem to be hammering away at the same half dozen stories. While whole continents go unmentioned for month after month."
Payne rocketed to the heights of international fame on The X Factor in 2010 as part of One Direction - made up of Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles. The band split up in 2015 but the stars went onto chase dreams of a solo career.
Radio 4 listeners shared their thoughts on Buerk's remark on social media platform X, saying: "Blimey. Michael Buerk on #R4today expressing his surprise (?) that the death of a ‘drugged up fading boyband member’ led the news. He seemed so… disdainful."
Someone else wrote: "'Faded, drugged up pop star' - Michael Buerk - wow."
Another added: "Michael Buerk is unhappy with BBC News making an item that “a drugged-up faded boyband singer had fallen off a balcony” a lead story last week. #LiamPayne."
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Meanwhile, others said: "Well @MichaelBuerk just nailed it on @BBCr4today talking to @amolrajan about his famous report from Ethiopia and the difference in journalism now and then. “There was a greater appetite for seriousness, only last week this programme (Today) decided that the most important thing."
Someone else said: "Michael Buerk tells it how it is. #r4today."
40 years since Michael Buerk's BBC report
Buerk has been in the news himself this week for the major milestone of 40 years since his report on Ethiopia famine.
Red Cross nurse Bertschinger gave a new interview to The Mirror, talking about being interviewed by Buerk and her personal experience of working on the frontline in Mekele, Tigray Province at the time. The nurse — who lives in Somerset — hailed the BBC journalist for getting the answers.
"What made the difference in the end was the arrival of Michael Buerk," she told The Mirror.
"Until then most people in the outside world had no idea of the scale of what was happening in Ethiopia. When Michael Buerk arrived, we were surprised. There was only one plane once a week.
"He started asking stupid questions. At the time I thought he was a stupid prat but I can look back and I think his reports got the right answers."
Yahoo has reached out to the BBC and Buerk's representatives for further comment.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
