Witness 'haunted' after seeing Liam Payne's fatal fall as controversial new documentary slammed

A tourist who witnessed Liam Payne's fatal fall has spoken out in a new documentary, revealing that the traumatic event is "burned into his brain". However, fans have expressed outrage over the documentary, TMZ Presents: Liam Payne: Who's to Blame?, which aired in the US, labelling it as "invasive" and "insensitive" for broadcasting so soon after the tragedy.

In the documentary, hotel guest Bret Watson said he was "haunted" by the harrowing moment he saw Liam fall to his death, stating: "We happened to be looking out of the window of our hotel at the pool area to show her [the planner] the view from the hotel.

"We saw Liam fall... and so we immediately rushed out on the balcony to see what it was and when we looked down we could see that it was Liam laying on the ground," he added. Watson believed that the singer died instantly.

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Liam, a member of One Direction, passed away at the age of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. According to a report from the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office, Liam's system contained traces of "alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants", reports the Mirror.

Officials also ruled out suicide, stating that Liam was in a state where he was unaware of his actions and unable to comprehend them. Speaking in the TMZ documentary, Mr Watson said: "The wedding planner and I looked at each other like 'oh my God, this is real, this actually happened'."

He also described the entire episode as "heartbreaking" and "haunting", revealing that it was an incident he would never forget.

His harrowing account features alongside a review of police files, despite inquiries into the death still being active. The documentary also includes interviews with the three suspects involved in the investigation, although the Mirror has chosen to hold back from publishing excerpts from these segments due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

And, it is for this reason, some people online have expressed their ire at the programme being aired in the US, just two months after Liam's death. One fan on X wrote: "Some of these topics are so invasive. just let him rest." Another posted: "I can imagine how mad, disappointed, furious and angry Liam Payne's family and his former bandmates feel." One fan stated: "This is so gross. the case is not even closed."

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A further X user said: The way they're talking about him is what's frustrating... It is already pi**sing me off." Another viewer wrote: "It should be against the law discussing [this] case with [an] accused."

The Mirror has published several warm tribute pieces, celebrating the musician's life. His girlfriend Katie Cassidy had said: "I don't even know where to begin. My heart is shattered in ways I can't put into words. I wish you could see the huge impact you've had on the world, even as it feels so dark right now" as she paid tribute to the star.

She added: "You brought so much happiness and positivity to everyone – millions of fans, your family, friends, and especially me. You are so incredibly loved. You are – because I can't say were – my best friend, the love of my life, and everyone you touched felt just as special as I did. Your energy was contagious, lighting up every room you walked into."

Multiple celebrities, including his One Direction pals, attended Liam's funeral in Buckinghamshire last month. Cheryl Tweedy, who was in a relationship with Liam between 2016 and 2018, was also seen leaving the church. Music mogul Simon Cowell was seen embracing Payne's father Geoff and mother Karen as they left the building.

Those being investigated have been named as Roger Nores, Braian Paiz, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra, hotel security Esteban Reynaldo Grassi and manager Gilda Martín. Last week, judge Laura Bruinard ordered that footage of Liam's fall which was captured on CCTV should be reviewed – eight weeks after his death. Authorities will examine the video which had previously not been shared.

Just moments before Liam's death, the singer was seen "convulsing" in the lobby of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel before being carried to his hotel room. Despite their concerns regarding his welfare, the staff left Liam alone.

However, they went on to make a 911 call, demanding urgent medical assistance stating that Liam's life may be in danger. Just moments later, Liam fell over his balcony and hit his head on the base of an umbrella in the court yard of the restaurant below his room.

During the distressing call, the hotel employee stated that they feared Liam's life was in danger as he could escape from the balcony. Reports claim that the One Direction star had been attempting to scale the balcony and plan an escape from his room which went wrong.