The director of a controversial TV documentary about One Direction fans has defended the project after the team behind the show was bombarded with abuse and death threats online.

Crazy About One Direction caused a stir when it aired in Britain last week (ends18Aug13) as it featured obsessed fans who follow the band's every move and fantasise about a romance between Louis Tomlinson and his bandmate Harry Styles.

Gossip began to swirl that members of the 'Larry Shippers' sub-group had committed suicide after the program went out, but no official cases have been confirmed.

The rumors prompted band member Liam Payne to lash out at bosses at Channel 4, the network behind the show, and now the director Daisy Asquith has spoken out to condemn the vile messages her team has received from many of the band's online devotees.

She says, "Their response to the film is so much more extreme than anything I chose to include. It's really been quite shocking. I think the response itself is proof that we didn't just pick the most extreme fans there are.

"Channel 4 have had threats and masses of hate directed at them. I've also had masses of hate directed at me."

A statement from Channel 4 adds, "This documentary, made by an award-winning filmmaker, followed a number of fans who, by their own admission, are obsessive about the band.

"Whilst not suggesting that the girls featured represent all 1D fans, it examined the impact social media has had on teenage fandom and how it has developed a new form of idol worship for many teenage girls.

"Both Channel 4 and the film makers took the utmost care to produce a documentary with genuine affection and respect for the fans."