CHERYL has paid a heartbreaking tribute to ex-boyfriend and father of her child Liam Payne following his tragic death.
The former One Direction singer, 31, fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday afternoon.
Cheryl, 41, shares son Bear, seven, with Liam and spoke of the grief she feels for her son following his dad’s death.
She was a judge on X Factor when Wolverhampton-born Liam found fame as a teenager – and the couple later began dating in 2016.
They welcomed Bear in 2017 and went their separate ways the following year.
Paying tribute to Liam on Friday evening, Cheryl shared a touching photograph of him with baby Bear next to a heartbreak emoji.
She added a statement on Instagram that said: “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.”
Cheryl went on: “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.”
Liam vowed to leave a touching legacy behind for his son two years before his death.
The singer, who fondly described his seven-year-old son as a “mini-me”, made the vow on a podcast with YouTuber Logan Paul.
Speaking in 2022, Liam – reportedly worth some £46 million – opened up about co-parenting the tot with ex Cheryl.
The One Direction star said: “My life now is his, my money is his.
“I have actually got several companies that are up and running that I know he can run one day if he wants to or [he can sell them].”
Liam told Logan at the time that he was a “lovely boy” and described being a dad as “the coolest thing”.
He also fondly described Cheryl as “the best mum in the world” and thanked her for giving him “full autonomy” to pursue his career while taking care of Bear.
Before his death Liam wanted to carve out a “fresh start” with Cheryl, a source told OK! magazine in 2018.
They said: “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.”
And describing his relationship with his son in 2022, Liam said: “I see him two times a week, three times a week sometimes.
“And I make sure when I see him, he has 100 percent of my time. I make sure that I’m not on my phone or d*****g around somewhere else.
“So, I like to give him those moments and it’s important, he needs that in his life.
“He needs his dad in his life, and I’m happy he looks at me like a superhero, and I’m hoping to keep it that way.””
He was reportedly “keen for a fresh start” with Cheryl prior to his death.
The dad’s relationship with his son was recently put under the spotlight and it is believed he wanted to “prove” he was getting his life together for his firstborn.
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.”
The resurfaced comments about Liam’s dad duties come after his tragic death this week.
Champagne, prescription drugs, white powder and foil wraps were all found in Liam’s trashed hotel room after he fell from the balcony at around 5pm (9pm UK time).
Fellow hotel guests revealed the star had been acting in a “disturbing” manner shortly before his fall, with Liam admitting to one woman: “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f**ked up.”
