Liam Payne’s Last Words About His Beloved Son Bear Just Months Before His Tragic Death

Liam Payne, widely recognized as a former member of the iconic boy band One Direction, tragically lost his life during a recent trip abroad with his partner. The heartbreaking event has left his young son without a father.

The singer crossed paths with the mother of his child, Cheryl Cole, through his music career. Cheryl, also a British singer, gained fame as a member of the pop girl group Girls Aloud before being selected by Simon Cowell to serve as a judge on “The X Factor: UK” in 2008.

The two first met in 2010 when Liam auditioned as a solo contestant on “The X Factor: UK.” However, it wasn’t until years later, after Cheryl’s split from her then-husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, that they were reintroduced by Cowell and became a couple.

However, Liam and Cheryl’s relationship later sparked curiosity due to their ten-year age difference. Still, that didn’t discourage them from continuing with their romance. In November 2016, news reports revealed that Liam and Cheryl were expecting their first child together.

Although the mother-to-be didn’t officially confirm her pregnancy until February 2017, she had already been spotted in late 2016, proudly displaying her growing bump on multiple occasions.

In March 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed their baby boy. The new dad shared the news on social media, posting a photo of himself holding his newborn son.

Liam expressed his joy, calling it an unforgettable moment and praising Cheryl for her strength throughout the journey. Though they hadn’t chosen a name yet, he shared how blessed he felt and how their son had already captured his heart.

The proud first-time father also took to X to express gratitude to those who sent their well wishes, writing, “Thank you to everyone for the love and supportive messages for myself and @CherylOfficial. It really means a lot.”

Despite welcoming their son, Bear Payne, their romance didn’t last. When Bear was just 16 months old, the celebrity couple publicly announced their split, ending their two-and-a-half-year relationship.

In July 2018, Liam and Cheryl announced their breakup on their respective X pages, sharing the news with their followers. “Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. […] We still have so much love for each other as a family,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, a similar message from the mother of one, read, “[…] Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”

Following their split, Liam and Cheryl successfully co-parented their son, Bear. As public figures, Cheryl expressed in an interview her desire for Bear to experience a normal childhood without the spotlight.

She shared that while Bear has started to understand their fame—once telling her, “‘How lucky am I to have famous parents?’”—she downplays its significance, reminding him that it isn’t what truly matters.

Moreover, in a 2019 interview, Liam opened up about the challenges of being a new dad and staying involved. He found cooking to be a meaningful way to contribute, helping out while Cheryl focused on their son.

The global star shared that he enjoyed making breakfast favorites like American pancakes and poached eggs. He also reflected on the strong bond he shared with Bear and how much they look alike.

The talented musician recalled when his mother brought over some of his old toys, and Cheryl noticed Bear playing with a red Jaguar car—Liam’s childhood favorite—proving Bear is truly his “mini-me.”

In July 2023, Liam expressed gratitude to his son’s mother for allowing him the time he needed to recover from his personal struggles. He admitted that, prior to that period, he felt incapable of being a father because he had nothing valuable to offer his son. Reflecting on Bear’s growth, Liam shared, “He’s growing up far too quickly. […] He’s far more smarter than I think I’ll ever be.”

Despite the challenges, Liam spoke fondly about the joy he found in watching his son mature. In another interview, the proud father expressed his admiration for his son, calling him a “blessing.” Liam emphasized how both he and Cheryl felt “blessed” and “lucky” to have their son as a part of their lives.

When asked if Bear listens to his music, Liam shared that his son used to be the one who determined if a song would “sink” or “swim.” He also admitted that he often missed Bear due to his busy work schedule, noting that Bear is 90 percent him.

In a 2022 interview, Liam also shared that he saw Bear two to three times a week and made it a priority to be fully present during their time together. He ensured Bear had his undivided attention, staying away from distractions like his phone.

The loving father expressed how much it meant to him that Bear viewed him as a superhero, and he hoped to keep that special bond as his son grew.

In addition, Liam admitted that he had always wanted to be a young dad, though he hadn’t expected to find himself in that position. He explained that when he was at home, he embraced his role as a father, but when he was at work, he experienced a completely different world.

Jokingly, he referred to himself as “Dada Montana,” a playful nod to Miley Cyrus’s show “Hannah Montana.” Meanwhile, Cheryl praised his parenting, acknowledging that he was a good father.

She described herself as the strict parent, limiting Bear’s treats, while Liam was more lenient. Agreeing that Liam was a great dad, Cheryl also noted that he was much softer than her, but she accepted their differences.

Furthermore, Liam cherished his time with Bear, marveling at how quickly his son grew up. He recalled that Bear was big from birth, joking that when he saw smaller babies, he couldn’t believe his son had ever been that little.

Reflecting on how fast Bear was growing, Liam shared moments of watching him walk around the house, pretending his teddy was a phone. He described Bear as “awesome” and a lot of fun, expressing how much he loved spending time with him.

On his 31st birthday, the songwriter shared heartfelt words about his son online. He jokingly mentioned, “I didn’t get any dad socks yet though.” He expressed his excitement about speaking with Bear soon, saying, “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.”

Bear was just seven years old when he faced the heartbreaking loss of his father. Liam had traveled to Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, on September 30, sharing fun-filled moments from their vacation on social media.

Kate departed on October 14, while Liam remained behind, staying at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. On October 16, 2024, tragedy struck. Hotel staff made a 911 call reporting an “aggressive” male, which witnesses later identified as Liam.

That same evening, he tragically fell from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires. Liam passed away from the fall, though it’s still unclear whether it was an accident or something more deliberate.

Liam Payne’s untimely passing has left a profound impact on those who knew and loved him, especially his young son, Bear. As the world mourns his loss, his legacy as both a talented musician and devoted father will continue to be remembered.