PLUS: HER EX FINALLY OPENS UP ABOUT RITA
‘It didn’t do much for my personal life!’
His series of steamy performances with Rita Ora for their 50 Shades duet early last year raised eyebrows – with fans insisting the pair’s sizzling chemistry would be hard for his then-girlfriend Cheryl to watch.
And opening up about his time working with Rita, Liam Payne appears to hint strongly that the duet did have a negative impact on things with Cheryl – mum of his two-year-old son Bear – with the couple splitting months later in July 2018.
GRINDING
Speaking to promote his latest single, the 26 year old reveals, “[My duet with Rita] didn’t do very much for my personal life! But it did a lot for my… [laughs] yeah no, it was good.”
Liam and Rita, 28, were filmed on a number of occasions grinding together on stage during performances of their song
For You. There later appeared to be tension when Cheryl and Liam seemed strained at the 2018 Brit Awards amid growing reports that they were heading for a split, and she was forced to watch Liam perform yet another steamy routine with Rita – which saw her strip to her underwear.
Cheryl first got to know Rita when they were judges on The X Factor in 2015. It had previously been reported that there was animosity between the women after Rita claimed she was first to be offered Cheryl’s 2012 hit Call My Name but turned it down – something producer Calvin Harris denied ever happened.
GETTING CUDDLY
Following Liam’s split from Cheryl, he was pictured cuddling up to Rita at a party less than a month later, and the pair have been spotted dining together several times.
At the time, fans speculated online about the relationship being more than just friendship, with one posting earlier this year, “I wonder if something is going on between them – they did seem to have chemistry when they duetted together.”
However, since then, Liam has gone on to forge a romance with girlfriend Maya Henry and is now happily loved-up.
But he insists he’s still fond of Rita, saying, “I love her, she’s really great and super, super fun to work with. Out of all my collaborations, I’d say she’s one of my favourites.”
By Jenny Davis
● Liam was promoting his new single Stack It Up, which was released on 18 September.