Liam Payne first met the future mother of his child, Cheryl when he was just a teenager, during his audition for The X Factor back in 2008, eight years before the pair embarked on a two and half year romance.
The former One Direction member, 31, has died after he fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Palmero hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday.
His final Snapchat posts earlier the day showed him happily posing with his bikini-clad partner Kate Cassidy as they looked into a mirror.
The singer had been spotted attending his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in the country earlier this month.
Liam had been dating Kate since October 2022, but his most high-profile relationship was with Cheryl, 41, who is 10 years his senior and with whom he shares seven-year old son Bear.
Liam Payne first met the future mother of his child, Cheryl when he was just a teenager, during his audition for The X Factor back in 2008, eight years before the pair embarked on a two and half year romance (pictured)
The former One Direction member, 31, has died after he reportedly fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Palmero hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday (pictured)
Liam had been dating Kate since October 2022, but his most high-profile relationship was with Cheryl, 41, who is 10 years his senior and with whom he shares seven-year old son Bear (pictured together in 2018)
Despite not beginning to date until 2016, Liam and Cheryl first set eyes on each other all the way back in 2008, with the moment captured on camera.
Before the era of One Direction began, Liam previously auditioned for The X Factor as a self-assured and cheeky 14-year-old, during Cheryl’s first year on the judging panel.
They struck up an immediate rapport, with Liam already doing his best to charm the Geordie beauty as he memorable gave her a confident wink during his rendition of Fly Me To The Moon, along with line ‘In other words, baby kiss me’.
Seemingly impressed by his potential, when giving her feedback Cheryl gushed: ‘I think you’re really cute, I think you’ve got charisma, you know you give us that little cheeky wink.’
Years later when the pair’s romance began, Liam reflected on their first meeting and his famous winking attempt at wooing Cheryl.
He admitted: ‘I was ribbed terribly by my friends at school for doing it. Now I am 23 and with her, my friends stand mute in the corner of the room. I have never seen them so quiet!’
Liam bagged a resounding ‘Yes’ from the judges and reached the Boot Camp stage, before being kicked out of the competition by Boys’ category mentor Simon just ahead of the Live Shows.
But it wasn’t the end of his X Factor journey, with Liam returning as a 16-year-old two years later to try and make it further.
Despite not beginning to date until 2016, Liam and Cheryl first set eyes on each other all the way back in 2008, with the moment captured on camera
Before the era of One Direction began, Liam previously auditioned for The X Factor as a self-assured and cheeky 14-year-old, during Cheryl’s first year on the judging panel
They struck up an immediate rapport, with Liam already doing his best to charm the Geordie beauty as he memorable gave her a confident wink during his rendition of Fly Me To The Moon, along with line ‘In other words, baby kiss me’
Seemingly impressed by his potential, when giving her feedback Cheryl gushed: ‘I think you’re really cute, I think you’ve got charisma, you know you give us that little cheeky wink’
He wowed the judges with his performance of Julie London’s Cry Me A River and impressed Cheryl again, as she praised: ‘You’ve definitely got it, whatever “it” is, you’ve got it. I thought your voice was really, really powerful.’
Rewatching his first audition in a segment for Esquire in May 2020, Liam reflected on the pair’s first meeting as he said: ‘Let’s address the elephant in the room.
‘Obviously, the future mother of my son is sitting in that chair. This is now an episode of How I Met Your Mother, so that’s enough of that I think.’
At the start of his career with One Direction, Liam was vocal about fancying the Girls Aloud star, regularly naming her as his celebrity crush in interviews.
But despite going on to reach global fame and success, he never saw his chances of dating her as at all likely.
He went on to enjoy romance with Sophia Smith while Cheryl endured a heartbreaking divorce from Ashley Cole, before romancing Tre Holloway and eventually tying the knot with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.
But their respective relationships ended within two months of each other toward the end of 2015, clearing the path for them to eventually pair up.
During an interview on the Graham Norton Show in May 2017, Liam revealed that it was his former bandmate Niall Horan and music mogul Simon Cowell who were instrumental in hooking the couple up in the spring of 2016.
But it wasn’t the end of his X Factor journey, with Liam returning as a 16-year-old two years later to try and make it further (pictured)
He wowed the judges with his performance of Julie London’s Cry Me A River and impressed Cheryl again, as she praised: ‘You’ve definitely got it, whatever “it” is, you’ve got it. I thought your voice was really, really powerful’
Recalling his efforts in making a move on Cheryl, Liam said: ‘I told Simon how hot I thought she was. Weeks and months went by and then Niall said, “You’ll never guess who fancies you!
‘Apparently he had been with Cheryl when Simon told her that I fancied her – she had turned bright red and left the room!’
Detailing how they got together further on Straight Talking with Ant Middleton, he said: ‘I went to Simon’s house, and made a joke about how hot Cheryl was. Simon was like, “I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!”
‘Then I was in a bar and Niall came in and told me that Cheryl liked me. I was like “Cheryl? Cheryl?”‘
He explained that he ‘hit her up’ and after that they ‘hung out a bunch of times’, as he sweetly added that he ‘won X Factor more than anyone.’
In 2018, Liam further divulged that it was Cheryl who made the first move on him as he revealed the move she used to flirt with him.
Appearing on Radio 1’s Breakfast Show, Nick Grimshaw confronted Liam with a list of so-called ‘facts’ about him and asked him to clarify whether or not they were true.
He asked: ‘Liam does not like a girl to make the first move’ to which Liam objected: ‘I don’t know about that. I’m into it.
While on the Graham Norton Show in May 2017, Liam revealed that it was his former bandmate Niall Horan and music mogul Simon Cowell who were instrumental in hooking the couple up in the spring of 2016 (Niall, Harry Styles, Simon, Louis Tomlinson and Liam pictured in 2015)
He explained that he ‘hit her up’ and after that they ‘hung out a bunch of times’, as he sweetly added that he ‘won X Factor more than anyone’ (pictured together in March 2016)
In 2018, Liam further divulged that it was Cheryl who made the first move on him as he revealed the move she used to flirt with him
‘Chez kind of made the first move on me if I’m honest. She tickled my hair. I thought “oh you’re into this”. And now look… a few years later…’
The couple went Instagram official in March 2016, with Liam sharing a snap of them looking loved up ahead of declaring that the Geordie lass was his ‘favourite woman in the world’.
Two months later, they hit another celebrity coupling milestone when they made their red carpet debut at the Cannes Film Festival, looking glamorous and besotted as they posed together before the world’s press.
Cheryl then attended a Christmas carol concert with Liam in December, when she stepped out in a khaki green dress that hugged a very prominent baby bump, sending the Internet wild.
But it wasn’t until March 25, 2017 that Cheryl confirmed her baby news – after having giving birth, as she shared a snapshot of Liam holding their then-unnamed baby son Bear and made the exciting announcement.
She wrote: ‘On Wednesday 22nd March Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy, weighing 7lb 9 and looking like a dream. Although he still doesn’t have a name he is already stealing hearts.
‘We are all madly in love and overwhelmingly happy with our little arrival. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers around the world. A day that now has a different meaning to me forever.’
While Liam posted his own tribute, saying: ‘My close friends and family know there are very few times when I’m left speechless… wow! I’m incredibly happy to welcome our new baby boy into the world.
The couple went Instagram official in March 2016 and then sent the internet wild when they attended a Christmas carol concert in December, with Cheryl showing a very prominent baby bump (pictured)
But it wasn’t until March 25, 2017 that Cheryl confirmed her baby news – after having giving birth, as she shared a snapshot of Liam holding their then-unnamed baby son Bear and made the exciting announcement
‘It’s a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favourite memory I have so far. 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’.
But 11 months later, the joyous news and cheerful anecdotes of first-time parenthood had been drowned out by relentless rumours that the pair’s romance had come to an end, after it was reported that they had been spending less and less time together.
And they chose the BRIT Awards as the place to show the world that they were still going strong, arriving at London’s O2 Arena holding hands and packing on the PDA – while even making jokes about their wild sex life.
As fans speculated whether the show of unity was just a stunt, the couple were enjoying the start of the show at their table when host Jack Whitehall decided to pick them out for an on-air interview for the ITV viewers at home.
Referencing Liam’s performance on the night of Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack song For You, Jack cheekily referenced the erotic thriller’s S&M theme.
‘You’re performing later, the song from the Fifty Shades film, it’s going to get quite racy… is there a safe word?’ he asked.
Liam then motioned towards Cheryl, saying: ‘She knows what the safe word is,’ to which the former Girls Aloud star added: ‘Don’t stop!’
Though their overzealous behaviour – amid claims that the romance would be over ‘within weeks’ – cast some doubt on the relationship again, when friends told The Sun that the love-fest was ‘just a stunt’.
But 11 months later, the joyous news and cheerful anecdotes of first-time parenthood had been drowned out by relentless rumours that the pair’s romance had come to an end, after it was reported that they had been spending less and less time together (pictured in May 2016)
And they chose the BRIT Awards as the place to show the world that they were still going strong, arriving at London’s O2 Arena holding hands and packing on the PDA – while even making jokes about their wild sex life (pictured)
Though their overzealous behaviour – amid claims that the romance would be over ‘within weeks’ – cast some doubt on the relationship again, when friends told The Sun that the love-fest was ‘just a stunt’
A source told the publication that Liam and Cheryl were attempting to hide their relationship woes with an overzealous display, just days after they were plagued with rumours of an impending split.
In March, Liam admitted they were having relationship issues, telling the Evening Standard’s ES magazine: ‘The funniest thing was a week before we were getting married. The next week we’re splitting up. And the thing for me is, I just like to think we’re somewhere in the middle.
‘You know, we have our struggles — like of course I’m not gonna sit here and say that everything’s absolutely fine and dandy, because of course you go through different things, and that’s what a relationship is.’
He later admitted that he felt ‘pushed out’ by his son’s birth in May, telling Hashtag Legend: ‘A mother and child is the most beautiful thing to watch, but they’re the closest thing ever – and you’ll never be as close.
“A lot of dads feel put out in that sense. I didn’t really feel put out, but I was like, “where’s my place?” I was desperate to find out what I was meant to do.’
Finally in June, the pair announced their split after two and a half years together, releasing a statement that 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.’
In March, Liam admitted they were having relationship issues and later admitted that he felt ‘pushed out’ by his son’s birth (pictured in 2021)
Finally in June, the pair announced their split after two and a half years together, but continued to have a good friendship as they co-parented son Bear (pictured in May 2016)
Speaking to Ant Middleton about the reasons for their breakup, Liam said: ‘Both of us struggled under the pressure. Working away a lot, a lot of noise being shouted at us about it, having a child in the mix, we grew apart.
‘I was worried I would not be enough to look after the both of them. As much as we’re not together, she is one of the most important people – if not the most important person – in my life.
‘Even though we’re not together, Cheryl is always there for me, she understands what I’m going through.
‘The one thing I was always missing as a man in the relationship was a level of understanding of the way she might be feeling about certain stuff. I learnt that, although I wanted to protect her, there was a big side of her that wanted to protect me.’
But the two appeared to still have a good relationship following the split as they co-parented their son.
Liam admitted: ‘We genuinely get on, there are so many parallels we share in life. I hope she’s happy, she deserves it, she’s a great mum, she works hard, she deserves to find happiness.’
‘I have thought long and hard about [her moving on with someone else]. We will find our own peace with it, for now, it’s good. I go over, do whatever, watch TV, it’s good, it’s nice.’
Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast, he praised Cheryl’s parenting and said the ‘relationship we have now as friends has only grown more’ (Bear pictured earlier this year)
Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast, he praised Cheryl’s parenting and said the ‘relationship we have now as friends has only grown more’.
He said: ‘She is the best mum in the world. I couldn’t ask for someone better.’
He went on: We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know he’s [Bear’s] taken care of.
‘He is all she cares about and I couldn’t ask for more. They live like three minutes from my house. I always glue myself to where he is. My life now is his. My money is his. He’s a lovely, lovely boy. We’ve been blessed.’