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.
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. However, the mother-to-be didn’t officially confirm her pregnancy until February 2017.
In March 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed their baby boy. The new dad reportedly also 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 expressed 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, “Thank you to everyone for the love and supportive messages for myself and @CherylOfficial. It really means a lot.”
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.
2017 has been a crazy year! I’m gonna post a memory every day this week. First has to be my baby boy Bear! Holding him for the first time is a memory I will never forget and watching him grow up is just amazing to see. pic.twitter.com/ZDtHh0ky7C
— Liam (@LiamPayne) December 26, 2017
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.”
Following their split, Liam and Cheryl successfully co-parented their son, Bear. As a public figure, Cheryl wanted Bear to experience a normal childhood without the spotlight.
In an interview with Vogue, she divulged that while Bear has started to understand their fame—once telling her, “‘How lucky am I to have famous parents?'”— she downplayed its significance and reminded him it wasn’t what truly mattered.
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Liam opened up about the challenges of being a new dad to his look-alike son and staying involved in a 2019 interview.
The global star revealed how he enjoyed making breakfast favorites like American pancakes and poached eggs, finding it a meaningful way to contribute while Cheryl focused on their son, Bear, with whom he also built a strong bond.
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The talented musician recalled when his mother brought over some of his old toys, and Cheryl noticed Bear playing with a red Jaguar car—Liam’s childhood favorite—it proved that Bear was truly his “mini-me.”
In July 2023, Liam expressed gratitude to his son’s mother for allowing him the time he needed to recover from personal struggles. He admitted that, prior to that period, he felt incapable of being a father because he had nothing valuable to offer his son. Reflecting on Bear’s growth, Liam disclosed, “He’s growing up far too quickly. […] He’s far more smarter than I think I’ll ever be.”
Despite the challenges, Liam spoke fondly of the joy he found in watching his son mature. In another interview, the proud father expressed his admiration, calling him a “blessing.” Liam emphasized how he and Cheryl felt “blessed” and “lucky” to have their son as a part of their lives.
When asked if Bear listens to his music, Liam revealed that his son used to be the one who determined if a song would “sink” or “swim.” In addition, he often missed his child, who is 90 percent of him, due to his busy work schedule.
In a 2022 interview, Liam also mentioned that he saw Bear two to three times a week and made it a priority to be fully present during their time together. He ensured Bear had his undivided attention, staying away from distractions like his phone.
The loving father expressed how much it meant to him that Bear viewed him as a superhero, and he hoped to keep that special bond as his son grew.
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In addition, Liam admitted that he had always wanted to be a young dad, though he hadn’t expected to find himself in that position. He explained that when he was at home, he embraced his role as a father, but when he was at work, he experienced a completely different world.
Jokingly, he referred to himself as “Dada Montana,” a playful nod to Miley Cyrus’s show “Hannah Montana.” Meanwhile, Cheryl praised his parenting, acknowledging that he was a good father.
She described herself as the strict parent, limiting Bear’s treats, while Liam was more lenient. Agreeing that Liam was a great dad, Cheryl also noted that he was much softer than her, but she accepted their differences.
Furthermore, Liam cherished his time with Bear, marveling at how quickly his son grew up. He recalled that Bear was big from birth, joking that when he saw smaller babies, he couldn’t believe his son had ever been that little.
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Reflecting on how fast Bear was growing, Liam recalled moments of watching him walk around the house, pretending his teddy was a phone. He described Bear as “awesome” and a lot of fun, expressing how much he loved spending time with him.
On his 31st birthday, the songwriter shared touching words about his son online and humorously noted, “I didn’t get any dad socks yet though.” Liam also expressed his joy about talking to Bear soon, adding, “Bless him. He’s getting so big now. He’s a big boy and he looks like a mini-me. As if we needed any more me in the world.”
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Now only seven years old, Bear faces the heartbreaking loss of his father. Liam had traveled to Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, on September 30, and had been sharing fun-filled moments from their vacation on social media.
Kate departed on October 14, while Liam remained behind, staying at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. On October 16, 2024, tragedy struck. Hotel staff made a 911 call reporting an “aggressive” male, which witnesses later identified as Liam.
That same evening, he tragically fell from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires. Liam passed away from the fall, though the cause of the fall is still unclear.
Liam Payne’s untimely passing has left a profound impact on those who knew and loved him, especially his young son, Bear. As the world mourns his loss, his legacy as both a talented musician and devoted father will continue to be remembered.
