Following his recent passing, Liam Payne is survived by his only child, whom he welcomed with another prominent celebrity. Liam always valued being a father, often expressing his gratitude for the experience and speaking fondly of the special connection he shared with his son.
Liam Payne, widely recognized as a former member of the iconic boy band One Direction, tragically lost his life during a recent trip abroad with his partner. The heartbreaking event has left his young son without a father.
The singer crossed paths with the mother of his child, Cheryl Cole, through his music career. Cheryl, also a British singer, gained fame as a member of the pop girl group Girls Aloud before being selected by Simon Cowell to serve as a judge on “The X Factor: UK” in 2008.
The two first met in 2010 when Liam auditioned as a solo contestant on “The X Factor: UK.” However, it wasn’t until years later, after Cheryl’s split from her then-husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, that they were reintroduced by Cowell and became a couple.
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Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne at the Chopard Trophy Ceremony on May 12, 2016, in Cannes, France. | Source: Getty Images
However, Liam and Cheryl’s relationship later sparked curiosity due to their ten-year age difference. Still, that didn’t discourage them from continuing with their romance. In November 2016, news reports revealed that Liam and Cheryl were expecting their first child together.
Although the mother-to-be didn’t officially confirm her pregnancy until February 2017, she had already been spotted in late 2016, proudly displaying her growing bump on multiple occasions.
Liam Payne and Cheryl arriving at The Fayre of St James’s Church on November 29, 2016, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
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In March 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed their baby boy. The new dad shared the news on social media, posting a photo of himself holding his newborn son.
Liam expressed his joy, calling it an unforgettable moment and praising Cheryl for her strength throughout the journey. Though they hadn’t chosen a name yet, he shared how blessed he felt and how their son had already captured his heart.
The proud first-time father also took to X to express gratitude to those who sent their well wishes, writing, “Thank you to everyone for the love and supportive messages for myself and @CherylOfficial. It really means a lot.”
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Despite welcoming their son, Bear Payne, their romance didn’t last. When Bear was just 16 months old, the celebrity couple publicly announced their split, ending their two-and-a-half-year relationship.
In July 2018, Liam and Cheryl announced their breakup on their respective X pages, sharing the news with their followers. “Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. […] We still have so much love for each other as a family,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, a similar message from the mother of one, read, “[…] Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”
Cheryl and Liam Payne attend The BRIT Awards 2018 Red Carpet on Feb 21, 2018, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
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Following their split, Liam and Cheryl successfully co-parented their son, Bear. As public figures, Cheryl expressed in an interview her desire for Bear to experience a normal childhood without the spotlight.
She shared that while Bear has started to understand their fame—once telling her, “‘How lucky am I to have famous parents?'”—she downplays its significance, reminding him that it isn’t what truly matters.
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Moreover, in a 2019 interview, Liam opened up about the challenges of being a new dad and staying involved. He found cooking to be a meaningful way to contribute, helping out while Cheryl focused on their son.
The global star shared that he enjoyed making breakfast favorites like American pancakes and poached eggs. He also reflected on the strong bond he shared with Bear and how much they look alike.