Cheryl Cole, the mother of Liam Payne's son, Bear, welcomed their son in March 2017 at 34. Now 41, she took to Instagram to pen a statement in the wake of Payne's passing.
Liam Payne passed away on Wednesday evening after falling from the third floor of his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. Cole and Payne dated for two years before parting ways.
The British singer said in her statement on Friday, October 18:
"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. Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son."
A closer look at Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne's relationship
2008: A 14-year-old Payne meets Cole
Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne met for the first time when the latter was just 14. He was auditioning for The X Factor, as Cole sat on the judges panel alongside Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh.
Payne didn't make it the first time and so, he returned in 2010 to give it another go. It was then that the beloved One Direction band was born, and Payne's career began soaring.
2016: Payne and Cole take the plunge
That year, on the heels of Cheryl Cole and her ex-husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini parting ways, rumors were brewing among fans of a possible link between Cole and Payne. These were confirmed when the pair made things red-carpet official in May 2016, at the Global Gift Gala in Paris.
Cole nabbed an award- the Global Gift Philanthropist Award- and her then-boyfriend took to X to gush over her:
2017: A new addition to the family
In March 2017, People reported that the two had welcomed their son. The couple later took to Instagram to confirm the same. Payne, then 23, captioned his post:
"I’m completely in awe of his incredible mother and how she has been the whole way through this, she’s really made my dreams come true. We haven’t named him yet but he’s already capturing hearts including mine. I feel very blessed.”
Their son was later christened Bear.
2018: A public breakup
By 2018, the couple decided to end it. In a post on X from July 2018, Payne wrote:
"Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."
Cheryl Cole echoed the sentiments, noting that they still had "so much love for each other as a family."
2024: Cheryl pens a plea to Payne's fans
On Instagram, Cheryl Cole reflected on the numerous reports and images that have since surfaced of the actor, before his passing.
"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. I am begging you to consider what use some of these reports are serving, other than to cause further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces. Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them."
She ended the statement by adding:
"Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last."
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Cheryl Cole signed off on her post with a vote of thanks to her fans, and her name.
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