Godwin ObajeFather’s Day proved particularly painful this year for Cheryl and her son Bear, as they marked the occasion without the boy’s father, Liam Payne. The late One Direction star tragically passed away in October 2024 at the age of 31, leaving behind a legacy of music, fatherhood, and deep personal connections.
Cheryl, 40, remained silent on social media during the weekend, continuing her retreat from public life since Liam’s sudden death. Her last post, a black-and-white photograph of Liam lying in bed cradling newborn Bear, was accompanied by a simple heartbreak emoji — a poignant tribute that needed no words.
Liam, who sold more than 70 million records globally with One Direction, was not only a global pop icon but also a deeply devoted father. He and Cheryl welcomed Bear in 2017 and, although they separated the following year, they maintained a cooperative and supportive co-parenting relationship.
In a 2021 interview with Glamour, Liam praised Cheryl as “the best person to co-parent with,” explaining, “There’s no stress involved. It’s very, very relaxed, and we spend a lot of time on FaceTime.” He later added, on Impaulsive with Logan Paul, “She is the best mum in the world. I couldn’t ask for someone better… He [Bear] is all she cares about and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Although Liam wasn’t able to spend as much time with Bear as he wished, he made sure every moment counted. “I see him two times a week, three times a week sometimes. And I make sure when I see him, he has 100 per cent of my time,” he told People in 2022. “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.”
Following Liam’s passing, Cheryl released a powerful statement urging the media and public to show compassion for Bear’s sake. “As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event… 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,” she wrote.
“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 few days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in the future.”
“Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last,” she concluded.
Cheryl is now responsible for managing Liam’s estate, which is estimated at £24.3 million, on behalf of their son. Court documents confirm she has been appointed as an administrator alongside music industry lawyer Richard Mark Bray.
For now, Cheryl’s focus remains firmly on shielding Bear from the intense media glare, and helping him through a grief that no eight-year-old should have to bear.
Godwin Obaje
