Gareth Cliff responds to backlash over comments on Liam Payne’s death

Controversial media personality Gareth Cliff is facing criticism online for his remarks about the death of One Direction member Liam Payne.

The 31-year-old passed away on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

On “The Gareth Cliff Show,” a blend of online radio, podcast, and YouTube, Cliff expressed his anger about Payne’s death: “I was furious, which is something that doesn’t happen to me when celebrities die.

I don’t get cross and I don’t even know who this guy was, I know he’s one of the One Direction boys.”

He continued, “It bothers me, it really bothers me when young people who have, in his case, a great life, talent, it seems like he has money, it seems like he has options in the world and this guy decides to end it all.”

Cliff further stated, “The miracle is that you are alive… the chance of you being here and being alive… are so, so tiny that if you won the lottery five million times in a row, you wouldn’t be as lucky as you are to be alive and to jump out of the building as a young pop star… for you to end that is just so spectacularly stupid and selfish.”

Gareth Cliff is notorious for his controversial comments over the years.

His comments drew widespread backlash, with many users pointing out the complexities of mental health and addiction.

One user, debstagram2.0, wrote: “Firstly, it’s not confirmed he jumped. Secondly, he had drug and alcohol addiction issues. Thirdly, he had mental health issues… It’s desperately sad. He was so young.”

Another user, @jaxdavids, remarked, “You said it yourself, Gareth. You don’t know much about Liam Payne or his life so how can you call it stupid and selfish? You don’t know his struggles, his story so why not call it sad instead?”

In light of the criticism, Cliff invited psychologist Dr Hanan Bushkin onto his show.

He acknowledged, “I know that suicide is on the up… but I think that it got the reaction that it got because people aren’t telling young people… that being alive is the greatest gift of all gifts.”

Bushkin discussed the importance of a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle choices, encouraging a “chin up” approach to life.

Cliff concluded by saying, “I have got lots of opinions… but you’ve just said it and you’re a pro so listen to him if you don’t like what I say.”

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