Liam Payne and ex Cheryl Cole first crossed paths in 2008 however didn’t begin their romance till a lot later.

In 2008, Payne auditioned to be on X Issue for the primary time at age 14. Cole was one of many judges alongside Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh.

“Let’s deal with the elephant within the room,” Payne mentioned whereas rewatching his first audition in a phase for Esquire in Might 2020. “Clearly, the longer term mom of my son is sitting in that chair. That is now an episode of How I Met Your Mom, in order that’s sufficient of that I feel.”

Whereas Payne didn’t make it via the primary time, he returned to the present two years later the place Cole remained a decide. He turned a member of One Path, which went on to make boyband historical past.

Associated: Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne’s Greatest Quotes About Coparenting Their Son Bear

Although Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne’s romance didn’t pan out, they’ve have been devoted coparents to their son, Bear. The previous Women Aloud performer and Payne started relationship in February 2015, practically two years earlier than Cole confirmed her being pregnant. “My shut family and friends know there are only a few instances after I’m left speechless… wow!” […]

Regardless of understanding one another throughout these early years, Cole and Payne’s connection didn’t flip romantic till practically a decade later. The pair have been first linked in 2016 after Cole’s break up from ex-husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.

The next yr, Cole and Payne welcomed their first youngster, son Bear. In July 2018, Payne and Cole known as it quits. The duo remained amicable as they coparented son Bear.

In October 2024, Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died at age 31 after falling from a lodge balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Maintain scrolling for a glance again on Payne and Cole’s relationship timeline:

2008

In his X Issue audition, Payne sang “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra. As he crooned the ballad, he winked at Cole. After finishing his efficiency, Cole gushed over his expertise and known as him “actually cute.” Payne made it to the subsequent spherical however was minimize by Cowell on the Judges’ Homes.

2010

Two years after his first rejection, Payne returned to the present the place Cole was nonetheless a decide. He turned a member of One Path alongside Harry Types, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

December 2015

Cole and Payne reunited on the X Issue finale the place One Path carried out. The twosome shared a hug on stage.

February 2016

One month after Cole filed for divorce from Fernandez-Versini, rumors swirled that she and Payne have been relationship.

Might 2016

The couple made their pink carpet debut as an merchandise on the International Present Gala in Paris. Cole was honored with the International Present Philanthropist Award. Payne took to X to gush about her achievement.

“So pleased with her tonight 😘😘such a particular award #GlobalGiftGala,” he captioned a selfie of him and Cole together with her award.

March 2017

After one yr of relationship, the twosome introduced they welcomed their son, Bear.

“On Wednesday twenty second March Liam and I turned dad and mom to an extremely stunning, wholesome child boy, weighing 7lb 9 and searching like a dream,” Cole wrote by way of Instagram on the time. “Though he nonetheless doesn’t have a reputation he’s already stealing hearts. We’re all head over heels in love and overwhelmingly pleased with our little arrival. Glad Mom’s Day to all of the moms world wide. A day that now has a distinct which means to me ceaselessly 💙”

Payne shared his personal announcement, gushing about turning into a father.

“My shut family and friends know there are only a few instances after I’m left speechless… wow! I’m extremely pleased to welcome our new child boy into the world,” he penned. “It’s a second that I’ll always remember for the remainder of my life and my favorite reminiscence I’ve to date. I’m fully in awe of his unbelievable mom and the way she has been the entire approach via this, she’s actually made my goals come true”

July 2018

Payne shared that he and Cole known as it quits after two years of relationship.

“Cheryl and I are unhappy to announce that we’re going our separate methods. It’s been a troublesome resolution for us to make,” he wrote by way of X. “We nonetheless have a lot love for one another as a household. Bear is our world and we ask that you simply respect his privateness as we navigate our approach via this collectively.”

April 2019

Lower than one yr after their break up, Cole opened up about how she and Payne have been tackling coparenting.

“[Liam is] a lot softer than me. However it’s what it’s, and I’m OK about it,” she mentioned in an interview with The Telegraph. “When you could have a child, you aren’t consumed with simply interested by your self. It’s your duty to maintain issues settled and pleased, so that you make the perfect of all the pieces. And we have now.”

Might 2019

The next month, Payne completely advised Us that whereas Bear is well-behaved, he does have his moments.

“Generally he’ll form of have a go at his mum and I’ll be like, ‘Bear, cease it,’” he mentioned. “He simply wouldn’t hearken to me at present. … He simply needs to silence me together with his hand. He’s like, ‘Simply give me a minute. I’m busy.’”

December 2019

Whereas Payne moved on with Maya Henry, he shared that he deliberate on spending the vacations with Cole and his son.

“I’m going to go down and see Bear, possibly prepare dinner a Christmas dinner and simply hang around with household,” Payne mentioned on the ITV present. “I love to do Sunday roasts. It brings you again to normality. We’re going to go down and prepare dinner some good meals and hang around.”

March 2020

In honor of the U.Okay.’s Mom’s Day, Payne penned a touching tribute for Cole.

“Double big day at present due to 2 very particular women and a really particular little man,” he wrote by way of X. “Glad Mom’s Day mum and Cheryl you two are probably the most wonderful moms Bear and I might have requested for, thanks for elevating me proper and thanks Cheryl for displaying my son all of the love on this planet.”

July 2023

Payne acquired candid about how grateful he was to have Cole and Bear by his facet whereas he took a hiatus from the general public eye.

“Greater than something, I wish to say thanks to him and his mum for giving me somewhat little bit of freedom to go and get effectively in that second as a result of I needed to. There’s no level making an attempt to be a dad if you’ve acquired nothing to show and I don’t suppose up till this level I actually had a lot to say to him different than simply caring for him very deeply and loving him deeply, which is clearly an important factor.”