Payne, who shot to global fame with the boy band, died at age 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, triggering tributes from fans around the world.

Cheryl Tweedy, more commonly known by just her first name, was in a relationship with Payne between 2016 and 2018.

She used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.

"As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I'd like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being," she said on her Instagram account.

"What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day, Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future."

It was not clear which reports she was referring to, but she called on people to "give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last".

With AAP.