Cheryl Tweedy releases statement on Liam Payne’s death, lashes ‘abhorrent’ reports

Liam Payne’s ex-partner and the mother of his son has condemned “abhorrent” reports circulating amid his death, as she issued a heartfelt statement.

Cheryl Tweedy, previously known as Cheryl Cole, has spoken out about the tragic passing of Liam Payne, her former partner and the father of her seven-year-old son.

In a heartbroken statement, Tweedy expressed her grief at losing Payne not just as her ex-partner but also on behalf of their child, Bear Grey.

The UK singer, 41, also condemned the “abhorrent” media reports circulating about her ex-boyfriend in the wake of his death, with multiple accounts emerging about Payne’s erratic behaviour at the Casa Sur Hotel in Argentina on the day of his passing.

“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,” Tweedy began in a statement on Instagram, alongside a photo of Payne with a then newborn Bear.

Cheryl shared this photo of Liam Payne with their then-baby son Bear.

She continued, “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.

“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 too 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.”

Cheryl and Liam Payne dated for two years. Picture: EPA/NEIL HALL

Payne, 31, died after falling from a third-floor hotel room at Casa Sur Hotel in Argentina Wednesday at 5pm, local time.

Tweedy’s statement came shortly after Payne’s heartbroken girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, also spoke for the first time, saying she had been “at a complete loss” after leaving Argentina just two days before he died.

Cassidy wrote, “Nothing about the past few days have felt real.

“I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.

“Liam, my angel. You are everything.

“I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”

Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy began dating in 2022. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

Payne and Cassidy began dating in October 2022.

Prior to that, Payne was in a long-term relationship with former Girls Aloud singer Tweedy in 2015, seven years after the singer first auditioned for The X Factor aged 14 in 2008, when Tweedy was a judge on the show.

Their son was born in 2017, a moment Payne said his dreams had “come true”.

“I’m completely in awe of his incredible mother and how she has been the whole way through this. She’s really made my dreams come true,” he wrote.

The pair started dating in 2015. Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music

They first met when he auditioned for X-Factor. Picture: Gisela Schober/Getty Images for Chopard

A year after Bear’s birth, the couple announced the end of their relationship in 2018.

Payne posted a statement on X saying he was “sad” to announce that the two were going their separate ways but would remain a family.

“Cheryl and I 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,” he wrote.

Payne only made it to the boot camp round when he first auditioned for The X Factor, but he returned to the reality show in 2010 when he was grouped with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles to form One Direction. At this point, Tweedy wasn’t a judge on the show.

Liam was 1/5th of one of the biggest boy bands ever. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel

Payne and Tweedy have always remained amicable since their split, and he has even given her Mother’s Day shout-outs on social media, calling her an “amazing” mum.

After their split, Tweedy opened up to The Telegraph about their co-parenting style, describing Payne as “softer” with their son.

“[Liam is] much softer than me. But it is what it is, and I’m OK about it,” she said.

“When you have a baby, you are not consumed with just thinking about yourself. It’s your responsibility to keep things settled and happy, so you make the best of everything. And we have.”