Liam Payne jokingly responds to recent online criticisms of him gaining weight around the middle by taking to Instagram and posting a photo that supposedly expresses his reaction towards fat-shaming taunts.

In the photo he posted on the social media site, the One Direction singer showed off his upper torso with some extra stuffing and puffed out his cheeks. Payne captioned the photo with: "I mean OH MY GOD I'm just so fat these days I think I need help! Quick someone take the cookie jar."

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Liam has become the center of weight-related accusations after he was photographed shirtless while cruising on a yacht with his built looking particularly different from the usual refined physique.

Despite being on the Where We Are tour with the rest of the One Direction members, the 20-year-old singer was criticized for neglecting his healthy habits.

Last summer, Payne was spotted in Australia with his 6-pack beach bod; this year, on the other hand, he has been happily spending much time with his new girlfriend and packs a punch when it comes to smoking regularly.

To put a halt to the "fat" taunts, Payne shared evidence of his normal weight on Instagram with his 2.1 million followers. He highlighted this announcement by showing that his BMI was 22.8 and fell under the normal weight category of 18.5 to 24.9.

The singer also wrote: "Is it wrong to be normal? Or do I have to look like an Olympic swimmer just to get your approval into the cool kids?"

The singer has just spent the last few days with his girlfriend, Sophia Smith, on a yacht holiday in France's Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.

Talking about his lover in his post, Payne added, "Can I accept that the person I truly love thinks I'm the coolest kid in town anyway? Think I'll vote the second one ;)"

TagsLiam Payne, One Direction, fat, weight gain