Different DIRECTIONS
The rumours have sadly been proven right. British singer Cheryl has split from One Direction star Liam Payne, the father of her one-year-old son Bear.
There were whispers that the two-year relationship was in trouble earlier this year, which the couple denied, before putting put on a united front at the Brit Awards in February.
However, last week they called time on their romance in a joint tweet. “It’s been a tough decision for us to make,” they said. “We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world.”
Naysayers said from the start the relationship would never work because of their age difference – Cheryl has just turned 35, while Liam is 24. They first met on British TV show The X Factor, when Cheryl was a judge and Liam a contestant – and aged just 14.
Friends say they were besotted with each other but
their lives are headed down different paths. With One Direction on hiatus, Liam has been travelling around the world promoting his solo music, while Cheryl – who has previously been married to footballer Ashley Cole and restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini – has been staying at home with Bear.
“There is no animosity – they made the call based on what’s best for their family,” says a friend. “They get on great and this was a decision they made taking into account what’s right for their son. But they are adamant they will be the best possible parents to Bear by both being in his life.”