TMZ roasted for creepy article on Ella Langley

TMZ is facing widespread backlash after publishing an article that zooms in on a cropped photo of country singer Ella Langley's backside with the headline "Guess The Country Singer Flashing Her Peach."

The post, which appeared on TMZ's X account, has drawn more than 2.2 million views and nearly 200 replies as of this week.

Many social media users are calling the move "beyond creepy" and accusing the outlet of exploiting the 25-year-old "Choosin' Texas" star.

The photo in question dates back to April 2025, when Langley shared a snowy bikini shot from behind during a vacation in Banff, Canada.

At the time, Langley had not yet reached the worldwide stardom she would later achieve with her chart-topping hit "Choosin' Texas," released in October 2025.

TMZ did not simply repost the original image — the outlet cropped it to focus solely on Langley's backside before sharing it with its 10 million-plus followers.

The original vacation post had already made significant rounds on social media in 2025.

Even Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll's ex-wife, commented at the time, writing, "I had no idea Ella was caked up like this."

But TMZ's decision to resurrect the image with a zoomed-in crop and a guessing-game headline struck many as a step too far.

Some users on X replied with sarcastic guesses, naming other country stars like Luke Combs and Zach Top to mock the premise.

Others drew direct comparisons to Barstool Sports' old "Guess That A**" segment, which led to legal issues after the outlet posted unauthorized paparazzi photos.

Barstool's segment ran for years before facing legal challenges over the use of celebrities' images without permission.

The similarity was not lost on commenters, who noted that TMZ appears to have revived a format that already proved legally risky.

As of publication, Langley has not publicly responded to TMZ's post.

TMZ has also not issued a statement addressing the backlash.

This controversy comes at a major moment in Langley's career.

She leads the 2026 CMA Awards with nine nominations, making her the top contender at the 60th annual ceremony.

The CMA Awards will take place Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

Langley is set to perform live at the event alongside Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, The Red Clay Strays, Zach Top, and Tucker Wetmore.

Lainey Wilson will host for the third consecutive year.

Taylor Swift has also announced she will attend the show after receiving a nomination for Single of the Year.

Langley's rise has been rapid since the release of "Choosin' Texas" in October 2025.

The song became her first chart-topping hit and established her as one of country music's fastest-rising stars.

In a separate but related piece of news, a Jim Beam barstool used by Langley at the now-closed Zydeco venue in Birmingham, Alabama, is currently listed on eBay for $995.

The seller, a former employee, claims the stool was used by Langley and countless other stars, including Luke Combs, Riley Green, and Chris Stapleton.