LIAM Payne was “keen for a fresh start” with ex partner Cheryl prior to his tragic death.
The One Direction band member, who shared son Bear, aged seven, with the Promise This hitmaker, passed away aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony.
Liam’s sweet relationship with the schoolboy was recently put under the spotlight and it is believed he wanted to “prove” he was getting his life together for his firstborn.
He was 23 on Bear’s arrival in 2017.
A source previously told how Little Things hitmaker Liam was building things back up for his son and said to OK! Magazine: “We don’t see a lot of Bear on Liam’s social media but I think he wants to prove to Cheryl that he’s getting his life together.
During a podcast interview in June 2022, Liam described Bear as “a lovely, lovely boy” and praised his ex-partner Cheryl, 41.
He said: “She is the best mum in the world, I couldn’t ask for someone better.”
Last year, he revealed he spent 100 days in a wellness clinic.
He told of his rehab stint and said: “I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually, because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognise any more.”
At the time, he praised his mum and son and said: “Honestly, more than anything I want to say thank you to Bear and his mum for giving me a little bit of freedom to go and get well.
“There is no point trying to be a dad when you have nothing to teach.
“I feel like I have a grip on life now.
After I got back out, that process had worked for me, but there were still some little bits left that I kind of had to deal with myself.”
The resurfaced comments about Liam’s dad duties came as his family released an emotional statement on his premature passing.
In a statement, Liam’s family said this afternoon: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
By Joanne Kavanagh
IT was a romance that caused a media storm.
One Direction hunk Liam Payne was only 14 when he met former X Factor judge Cheryl during the show in 2008.
But it wasn’t until 2016 – when the Girls Aloud singer was divorcing her second husband – that the pair got together despite their ten-year age gap.
The couple made their relationship official in May of that year when they appeared at Eva Longoria’s Global Gift Gala in Paris.
In 2017, Liam paid a sweet tribute to his girlfriend by getting a tattoo of her eye on his arm.
Cheryl was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a boy on March 22, 2017.
She posted a picture on Instagram of Liam cradling their 7lb 9oz baby captioned: “On Wednesday Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy looking like a dream.”
One pal told The Sun: “Liam didn’t leave Cheryl’s side throughout the birth, and like her, he is besotted with their new son and can’t wait to take him home.
“This is the perfect Mother’s Day for Cheryl.”
The Sun revealed in May 2017 that the couple named their son Bear.
They decided on the unusual name after spending a week getting to know him.
In February 2018, The Sun broke the news that Liam’s constant travelling to promote his solo career had placed a huge strain on the relationship, and the pair were ready to split.
That same month, Cheryl said “none of it matters” as she shrugged off questions about her crumbling romance with Liam during a BBC Breakfast interview.
They then put on a united front together at the Brit Awards where they smiled on the red carpet and Cheryl joked about the couple’s ‘safe word’.
However, by July 2018, Cheryl and Liam made the decision to split.
A pal told The Sun: “Cheryl and Liam worked really hard on their relationship – they had troubles earlier this year and were able to get through them.
“But they’re in different stages of their lives and, after a lot of careful thought, came to a decision that it’s best for everyone if they do go their separate ways.”
Liam and Cheryl released a statement confirming their break-up which read: “We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make.
“We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”
“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this awful time.”
Liam was in Buenos Aires for pal Niall Horan’s tour when he tragically plunged from the third floor on Wednesday afternoon.
A source confirmed to The Sun that Liam has died.
Liam shared a post on Snapchat only minutes before his death and showed him and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy looking into a mirror.
The singer-songwriter was staying at Hotel CasaSur in the neighbourhood of Palermo.
Crowds of heartbroken fans have gathered behind a cordon outside the accommodation to pay tribute to the star.
The star’s cause of death has since been revealed.
