Liam Payne’s son Bear, who he shared with singer Cheryl, has been kept out of the spotlight by his parents. But they have shared a few insights into his life over the years – from his accent to his talents
The sudden death of Liam Payne, former One Direction star, at the tender age of 31 has left the world in shock. The singer tragically fell from the third floor of his hotel, CasaSur Palermo, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16 and was pronounced dead.
Tributes have been pouring in for Liam, including from his ex-partner Cheryl Tweedy, mother to their son Bear. She described his passing as an “earth shattering event.”
Breaking her silence last night, Cheryl said: “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.”
Alongside her tribute, Cheryl shared a previously unseen photo of Liam with their son. Bear was born at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London on March 22, 2017.
At the time of his birth, Liam took to Instagram to share his joy, writing: “My close friends and family know there are very few times when I’m left speechless… wow! ” as he reveled in his new role as a father. Despite splitting up shortly after Bear’s first birthday, Liam and Cheryl continued to co-parent, reports the Mirror.
Even though Liam wasn’t always physically present, he ensured his son was well taken care of. In 2019, Liam Payne stepped up to support Cheryl by helping her purchase a home in the quaint Buckinghamshire village of Chalfont St Peter. This is where the former Girls Aloud singer raised their son Bear, with her mom Joan by her side.
Not long after, Liam secured a property nearby to stay close to his family. Despite the glare of their celebrity status, Liam and Cheryl have been determined to shield Bear from the public eye, sharing only fleeting moments of him on social media.
Cheryl posted a heartbreaking tribute to Liam earlier this week (
Image:
Instagram/cherylofficial)
Cheryl has opened up about their parenting dynamics, admitting she’s “the strict one” while Liam takes on a “much softer” role.
Back in 2020, fans were treated to a rare glimpse of Bear’s voice when Cheryl posted a video revealing his strong Geordie accent, a result of his time spent with his Newcastle-born mum and grandmother. In the adorable clip, three year old Bear can be heard asking to visit the local park, his accent mirroring Cheryl’s own northern twang.
As Bear has gotten older, it seems he’s inherited a flair for the arts from his parents. Cheryl couldn’t help but boast about his singing and performing chops.
Earlier this year, Cheryl shared an uncommon photo of Bear during a soundcheck for the Girls Aloud tour in May. The snapshot captured a tender moment with Cheryl holding Bear’s hand on stage at Sheffield Arena, hinting at the youngster’s comfort in the spotlight.
In March, Liam posted a photo of Bear looking at a billboard featuring his dad, with the caption: “I want to be on a billboard one day daddy.”
Liam was 23-years-old when Bear was born (
Image:
Instagram)
Fans were surprised to see how much Bear had grown, with his thick brown hair resembling his mom’s. Last year, Cheryl revealed that Bear was starting to realize his parents were famous, despite her efforts to keep him out of the spotlight and give him a normal childhood.
She expressed concerns about people recognizing him in public, saying: “The problem is that I want Bear to have a normal childhood. I don’t want people recognising him on the street. But he’s twigged that I’m famous. The other day he said ‘How lucky am I to have famous parents? ‘ I said, ‘It doesn’t matter.’ He goes: ‘Yeah. But it’s pretty cool’.”
In a video shared on his 31st birthday in August, Liam mentioned he was excited to spend time with Bear, calling him his “mini me”. Liam said: “I didn’t get any dad socks yet thought. I’m going to speak to my son in a little bit which I’m really excited about. Bless him. He’s getting so big now. He’s a big boy and he looks like a mini me. As if we needed any more me in the world.”
Simon penned a heartfelt message, saying, “I have met your son Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in your eyes you have,” and added, “He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it,” Following his father’s untimely passing, the young child is poised to inherit a staggering £46 million fortune. Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, had reportedly set up a plan years ago to secure his wealth for his son, Bear, should anything happen to him.
Bear was born in 2017 (
Image:
INSTAGRAM)
Despite the physical distance, with Liam often in America, he maintained a close relationship with Bear through regular FaceTime calls. A source disclosed to The Daily Mail, “Liam had some very sensible people around him for a time and he adored Bear so much. He always wanted to do the right thing by him financially. It is a small consolation that Bear will never want for anything, that he will at least benefit from that.”
Another of Liam’s acquaintances lamented, “It’s tragic that they never had a proper father and son bond. Liam was there, a lost soul, on his own, thousands of miles away from home – it is awful. He would always call Bear; they would speak to each other a lot and Liam would see him as much as he could.”
The post-mortem examination revealed that Liam succumbed to multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage” after a fall from his balcony in Buenos Aires.
The incident is currently under investigation by Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 as an “inconclusive death.”
Liam and Cheryl met on the X Factor in 2008 (
Image:
Getty Images)
Liam’s father, Geoff Payne, was seen in Buenos Aires following his son’s tragic passing. Dressed in a navy suit, he was photographed leaving the Casa Sur Hotel.
According to the Associated Press, Mr Payne flew to Argentina to arrange for his son’s body to be returned home. In footage shared by the BBC, he was seen visiting a makeshift memorial created by fans outside the hotel, where he read letters and took a moment to reflect among the flowers, photos, and candles.
This comes after the family expressed their devastation over Liam’s death, stating: “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
