Cheryl breaks silence on Liam Payne's death and says it's 'breaking her heart' over son Bear

Cheryl has issued a powerful statement in the wake of the tragedy

Cheryl Tweedy, the former partner of Liam Payne, has spoken out after the singer's tragic passing. The ex-One Direction star was on a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy when he fell from the third floor of a hotel.

Liam, who soared to fame with One Direction, has a seven-year -old son named Bear with Cheryl. Despite parting ways in 2018 after two and a half years together, they welcomed Bear in 2017 and have occasionally shared snippets of their parenting life.

Following the tragedy, Cheryl released an emotional statement that read: "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 son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again."

Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp

She expressed her deepest concern about the potential impact of media exploitation on their son, stating: "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. Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last. Thank you, Cheryl."

It was reported that he fell from the third floor of a hotel building, with emergency services including police, firefighters and ambulances seen outside the premises. A body was discovered in an internal patio of the hotel.

The hotel manager alerted the police to the incident. It's believed that Liam fell from a height of around 13 or 14 metres, sustaining "very serious injuries incompatible with life".

Liam first met Cheryl when he auditioned for The X Factor at the age of 14.

They confirmed their relationship in February 2016. Cheryl kept fans in suspense for months before revealing her pregnancy during a L'Oreal photoshoot where she posed in a tight black dress and cradled her bump.

The former couple announced the arrival of their baby Bear on Mother's Day in 2017, both sharing identical Instagram posts of Liam holding their newborn. However, their relationship began to deteriorate after Bear's birth.

Speaking candidly on a podcast in June 2022, Liam described Bear as "a lovely, lovely boy". He also commended his ex, stating: "She is the best mum in the world, I couldn't ask for someone better."

However, Liam also admitted that Bear's arrival had a profound impact on his relationship with Cheryl, revealing that it "ruined" their romance "for all the right reasons".