Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole’s Relationship: From X Factor meeting to coparenting
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Liam Payne has passed away at the age of 31 following a fall from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
At the time of his passing, the One Direction star was dating influencer Kate Cassidy. Meanwhile, his former fiancée, Maya Henry, had sent him a cease and desist notice just the week before, claiming he was still reaching out to her.
Before meeting Cassidy in October 2022 and Henry in 2019, Liam was in a relationship with Cheryl Cole, who is a former judge on X Factor.
They have a seven-year-old son named Bear.
Here, we outline the unusual way the couple met and the progression of their relationship that followed.
In 2008, Cheryl and Liam crossed paths for the very first time during their time on the X Factor.
Liam was just 14 years old when he first encountered X Factor judge Cheryl during the fifth season of the hit show in 2008. He performed "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra and even gave the former Girls Aloud star a playful wink.
"I found you really adorable; you have a certain charm, and that playful wink you gave me definitely caught my attention," she shared regarding her initial thoughts. At that time, Cheryl was married to footballer Ashley Cole, who played for Chelsea.
The hopeful artist from Wolverhampton reached the boot camp phase of the contest but was eliminated by Simon Cowell, who advised him to return in two years.
2010 - The band One Direction comes together.
The singer made his comeback to the show in the same year Cheryl ended her marriage to Ashley. At that time, Liam had been eliminated as a solo artist. However, Nicole Scherzinger, a judge on X Factor and member of the Pussycat Dolls, proposed the idea of creating a band by uniting the solo artists who didn't make it, including Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and of course, Liam himself.
2015 - Liam and Cheryl come back together.
One Direction took the stage at the X Factor finale in December 2015, and it's said that this is when Cole and Payne reconnected. At that time, Cheryl was still in her marriage with her second husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.
In 2016, Cheryl parted ways with her second husband just as rumors about her relationship with Liam Payne began to circulate, and the couple eventually confirmed their romance.
In February, the couple ended their relationship, with speculation suggesting that Cole was now seeing a member of One Direction. Payne had posted several Instagram photos honoring the singer, one of which featured a tribute on International Women’s Day, where he referred to her as his “favorite woman in the world.”
Even though there is a 10-year age difference between them, the couple confirmed their relationship in May of that year by making a public appearance together at the Global Gift Gala in Cannes.
In 2017, Liam and Cheryl celebrate the arrival of their first baby.
On March 25, 2017, the couple revealed that they had welcomed their first baby, whom they named Bear. Cheryl posted a photo of Liam cradling their little one.
"My dear friends and family know that I don’t often find myself at a loss for words… But wow! I’m beyond thrilled to introduce our new baby boy to everyone," Liam shared in a heartfelt message on his Instagram.
"I'll always remember this moment; it's my favorite memory up to now. I'm truly amazed by his wonderful mother and the support she's given throughout this journey. She has really helped turn my dreams into reality."
2018 - The couple parts ways.
In July 2018, Liam shared on X/Twitter that he and his partner had broken up. This news came after speculation that his efforts to promote his new solo career were preventing them from spending quality time together.
He shared, "Cheryl and I regret to inform you that we've decided to part ways. It wasn't an easy choice for us."
"Our family remains incredibly close and united. Bear means everything to us, and we kindly ask that you honor his privacy as we work through this situation together."
2019 - 2024 Building New Connections and Shared Parenting
Following his breakup with Cheryl, Liam started a relationship with Maya Henry, a 23-year-old model from Texas, in 2019. They became engaged the next year. However, by June 2021, they chose to part ways, only to get back together later that year. Unfortunately, they ultimately ended their engagement for good in May 2022.
Liam is said to have stayed involved in his son Bear's life.
"I drive my son to school once or twice a week, and it's fantastic. The friendship he has with Cheryl has really deepened," he shared with YouTuber Logan Paul.
"We ended our relationship for a specific reason, and now she allows me complete freedom to live my life as I choose. I feel confident that he [Bear] is well taken care of. He means everything to her, and I couldn't ask for anything better."
2024 - Liam tragically passes away after a sudden fall from a balcony.
When he passed away, he was dating influencer Kate Cassidy, whom he had met in October 2022.
As of now, Cheryl has not made any comments regarding the death.
