Cheryl: “I won’t let Liam’s romance overshadow mine”
While Cheryl’s ex Liam Payne continues to date Naomi Campbell, she’s refusing to be branded a ‘single mum’ and is going allout to bag herself an A-list boyfriend
❛ SHE WANTS TO MAKE IT CLEAR SHE’S NOT A SAD SINGLETON PINING FOR HER EX ❜
He appeared keen to silence reports his shock romance with Naomi Campbell was already on the rocks when he went public with the supermodel at a star-studded BAFTA party last week.
But while all eyes were firmly on 25-year-old Liam Payne and Naomi, 48, at the Vogue & Tiffany Fashion And Film bash, his ex Cheryl – mum of his 23-month-old son Bear – was making headlines of her own.
CHEMISTRY
Cheryl, 35, teased about rumours of chemistry between her and Hollywood actor Michael B Jordan, 32 – which were initially sparked when they appeared alongside each other on The Graham Norton Show in December. It was reported last week that when asked in an interview which star she’d like to dance the salsa with, Cheryl cheekily replied, “Michael B Jordan… I’d rather rumba. And I don’t think I need to elaborate on that.”
Insiders say the singer is keen to ensure she appears as the one on top following her split with Liam last summer. She even Tweeted last week, “Wanna be my Valentine?”
A source says, “Cheryl’s very aware of how much attention Liam and Naomi are getting on a worldwide platform and she doesn’t want to look like the poor, lonely single mum watching from the sidelines as her ex moves on so publicly and becomes part of the next big A-list power couple.
“While nothing’s going on with Michael right now, she’d definitely be open to something happening as she thinks he’s gorgeous and incredibly talented. She’s commented on how sexy his work ethic is and joked that it’s an added bonus that he’s friends with Beyoncé, who’s her ultimate girl crush.”
Cheryl and Liam have stayed on good terms since their split last July – shooting down
reports of a feud after revealing how they spent Christmas together. Liam even made a surprise appearance via video call on Cheryl’s phone on BBC talent show The Greatest Dancer, where she’s a judge.
But while Liam has been linked to a string of models, Cheryl has remained single. And pals say that while the star is determined to remain close to her ex, she’s keen for their love lives to be on a more even keel.
Name-dropping
The source says, “Given Michael’s the only man she’s been linked to since her split from Liam, she knew that by name-dropping him and confirming she fancies him in the press, it could get back to him and might open the door for something to happen. It would also make it clear that she’s not a sad singleton sitting at home pining over her ex, and is looking at moving on and making that very much known.
“Cheryl and Liam are still good friends, but she also cares about what the world thinks about her and she wants their romantic lives to be more equal as it seems as though his love life is making all the headlines.”
Change of heart
Following the end of her twoyear relationship with Liam, the twice-married star initially said she wasn’t interested in dating again, but had a change of heart in January, revealing how she’d like to be with someone away from the entertainment industry. She even added that she’d “happily date a shelfstacker from Sainsbury’s.”
But since Liam’s upped the ante by bagging a world-famous supermodel, pals say she’s made a U-turn and wants her next man’s fame level to match or even exceed Naomi’s.
The source explains, “It’s never nice to see your ex move on, and seeing Liam with Naomi has served as motivation for Cheryl to get back out on the dating scene. She’s realised she’d have a stronger connection with someone who knows how fame and the showbiz industry work and that she wouldn’t be forever questioning their true reasons for being with her.
“She’s put the feelers out among her showbiz friends, Simon Cowell, Matthew Morrison and Willi.am, and she’s secretly hoping Michael saw her comment and that his people will get in touch. He’s very much her type.”