Liam Payne's love story with Cheryl - and real reason for split | HELLO!

Before starting her relationship with Liam, Cheryl had been married two times. Her first marriage was to Ashley Cole, which lasted from 2006 to 2010, and her second was with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, from 2014 to 2016.

In December 2015, she reconnected with Liam during the final of The X Factor. The two, who have a decade's difference in age, made their official public appearance together at the Global Gift Gala in May 2016. At this event, Cheryl was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropist Award.

For several weeks, Liam and Cheryl sparked speculation about a possible pregnancy until Cheryl finally announced in February 2017 that she was indeed expecting. She was seen gently holding her growing baby bump in a campaign featuring The Princes Trust and L'Oreal, alongside celebrities like Helen Mirren, Katie Piper, and Louisa Johnson.

The next month, just a year into their relationship, they celebrated the arrival of their son, Bear.

Announcing the joyful news on Instagram, the 'Fight for this Love' artist posted a photo of proud dad Liam holding their newborn. She expressed, "On Wednesday, March 22nd, Liam and I welcomed an amazingly beautiful and healthy baby boy who weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and is simply perfect."

"Even though he hasn't been named yet, he's already capturing everyone's hearts. We're all head over heels in love and absolutely thrilled with our new addition. Happy Mother's Day to moms everywhere. This day now holds a new significance for me that will last a lifetime."

Liam expressed his emotions in a touching post, saying: "My dear friends and family know that it’s rare for me to be left without words… but here I am! I’m overjoyed to announce the arrival of our baby boy!"

"I'll always remember this moment; it's my favorite memory to date. I’m truly amazed by his wonderful mother and everything she’s done throughout this journey. She's really helped make my dreams a reality."

Bear was only a year old when the couple separated in July 2018 after being together for two years.

The artist known for "Strip That Down" shared the news on X, which was previously Twitter, and assured everyone that they would still be working together to raise their son.

"Cheryl and I are heartbroken to share that we are parting ways. Making this choice has not been easy for us," he wrote.

"Our family bond is stronger than ever. Bear means everything to us, and we kindly ask that you honor his privacy while we go through this journey together."

In 2022, Liam mentioned that becoming a dad changed his relationship with Cheryl. Speaking to other fathers on Logan Paul's Impaulsive podcast, he remarked, "You can't predict what's ahead, and it really is a different experience."

To be truthful, it ended a relationship for me back then, but it was for the best. I was so thrilled about his arrival that I found myself genuinely concerned about whether I would love him enough.

He also took a moment to commend Cheryl's abilities as a parent. "She's an amazing mom—I couldn't ask for anyone better," he stated. He continued, "We ended our relationship for a specific reason, and now she allows me to live my life freely and pursue my passions, knowing that Bear is well taken care of."

"He means everything to her, and I couldn't be happier about it. They live just a few minutes away from me. I always make it a point to be near him. My life revolves around him now, and so does my financial situation. He’s such a wonderful kid. We truly feel fortunate."

Cheryl usually keeps her personal life with Bear to herself, but she opened up a bit in 2019 about how their parenting approaches differ.

"[Liam is] definitely more gentle than I am. But that’s just how things are, and I’ve come to terms with it," she shared with The Telegraph. Discussing their shared parenting, she added: "Having a baby shifts your focus away from yourself. It's important to ensure a calm and joyful environment, so you embrace every moment. And we’ve done just that."

That same year, Liam shared insights into Bear's character during a chat with Us.

At times, he'll kind of push back against his mom, and I'll chime in with, "Bear, knock it off." But today he really wasn't paying attention to me… It seems like he just wants to shush me with his hand. He's all like, "Hold on a second. I'm occupied right now."

In 2023, Liam stepped away from the spotlight and later revealed that he had been sober for six months after completing a 100-day program at a rehabilitation center.

He praised Cheryl's support enthusiastically in a YouTube video, saying, "Above all, I want to express my gratitude to [Bear] and his mom for allowing me some time to focus on my healing when I really needed it."

"There's no reason to take on the role of a dad if you don’t have anything valuable to share. Until now, I felt like I didn't have much to communicate to him other than my deep love and care for him. And that, of course, is the most crucial aspect."

MORE: A closer look at Maya Henry's intricate connection with the late musician Liam Payne.

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