Cheryl ‘grew sick’ of Liam’s ‘other women’
Insiders reveal how the final straw for Cheryl and Liam Payne’s two-year romance was his ‘single man’ behaviour following a string of gaffes
umours had R been swirling for months that Cheryl and Liam Payne’s relationship was on the rocks, and last week they finally confirmed it was over. In a post on Twitter, Cheryl revealed that it was a “tough decision,” adding they “still have so much love for each other as a family.”
But insiders tell Closer the split was acrimonious and that Cheryl, 35, ended things following 24-year-old Liam’s partying with other women during his trip to South America last month.
A source says, “Things had been breaking down since the start of the year, but Liam’s trip to Brazil was the final straw and close friends feel Cheryl couldn’t help but realise how different they were and that it was time to face up to the fact it wasn’t working.
“Cheryl trusted him – and there’s no suggestion he did anything wrong – but at times it almost felt like he was behaving like a single man. It was only going to be a matter of time before she grew sick of his partying, praising other women in interviews and flirting on stage with Rita Ora. Of course, he’s a young star building an international pop career and he had to be seen to be ‘out there’ and living it up, but that lifestyle was hard for her, especially with a baby at home. Essentially, they were on different pages.
“It was also felt Liam wasn’t helping things by fuelling reports of issues in their relationship with everything he was saying publicly. Liam would still like to be with Cheryl, but things changed so drastically in their relationship, it was too late to save it.”
In February, Cheryl – who shares 14-month-old son, Bear, with Liam – shot down reports of trouble in their romance, Tweeting, “Oh stop no one cares.” But rumours persisted, prompting her to slam reports in March that had linked Liam to two women – one of his backing dancers and Cheryl’s manager and friend, Lily England.
The former 1D star raised eyebrows last month when he said Brazilian singer Anitta – real name Larissa de Macedo Machado – was “hot” with a “sexy” accent and shared a string of videos with her on social media. Fans and the Loose Women panel also branded it as “disrespectful” and “humiliating”.
STEAMY PERFORMANCE
Last year, Liam revealed Cheryl – who posted a pic of herself with pals Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh on her birthday last week – would tell him off for revealing too much, saying, “I get too excited. She says, ‘What did you have to say that about me for?’ I’m like a proud nan. I get over excited, I’m just happy with everything.”
As Closer previously reported, Cheryl was also unhappy with Liam’s steamy behaviour with pal Rita Ora during a performance of their song, For You, on a US TV show in February. Liam also repeatedly opened up Cheryl to ridicule in his interviews, saying how she thought she was “massive” after having Bear, and that she had “no complaints” about the size of his penis. In September last year, he said their relationship was a “ridiculous” place to be in because of how they met – when he was 14 and auditioning for The X Factor.
The source says, “Liam was always jetting off somewhere, going on wild nights out and surrounded by women. His performances with Rita and comments in interviews painted the impression he was living a party-boy lifestyle.
AGE-GAP ISSUES
“It couldn’t have been further from the life Cheryl craved – she likes nights in with Bear at home and, in that way, their age gap was a bit of an issue. Because he travelled so much, it sometimes wasn’t clear where Liam was from one night to the next or who he was with, and it caused tension. Of course no one would have blamed her for hating how his partying might have looked to other people. On top of that, his repeated silly comments
❛SHE REALISED HOW DIFFERENT THEY WERE AND THAT IT WASN'T WORKING❜
annoyed her – she was sick and tired of it all. Liam was spending more and more time at his London apartment from March onwards and, after recording in the studio, he’d be too tired to travel back to their Surrey home. They had little desire to spend any real time together.”
In the wake of the split, Cheryl blasted claims that her mum, Joan, played a part in their break-up, Tweeting, “I cannot sit here and listen to such nasty, false articles regarding my mam... I can assure you she has absolutely nothing to do with it.”
NERVOUS
Cheryl has made no secret of her dreams for a relaxed family life. Speaking in 2012, she said, “I’d love a massive family,” but after two failed marriages – first to footballer Ashley Cole and then to Jean-bernard Fernandez-versini – and now her split from Liam, friends say Cheryl is nervous about finding love again.
Last week, pal Nicola stressed Cheryl was OK, saying on Loose Women, “She’s on the mend, she’s good… I actually think what’s been interesting this week is the misogyny which plays out, like, ‘Why can’t she hold on to a man.’ It’s like, ‘Why can’t a man keep her?’”
The source adds, “Cheryl is low and friends are worried about her. All she wants is a happy family and a peaceful life.
“Of course it will be hard for her to see if Liam moves on quickly – in that way she’s nervous about what the future holds. Nicola and Kimberley have rallied round and she’s incredibly close to her mum, brother and sister, who are all supporting her through this horrible time.”