Cheryl and Liam’s rocky date Their romance hits a low note
Their look of love fails to ring true
Arriving hand-inhand on the red carpet of the Brit Awards last week, Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne put on a united front in the hope it would quell those persistent breakup rumours.
Unfortunately for them, their obvious awkwardness achieved the opposite, fuelling speculation a split is imminent.
And Woman’s Day can reveal the unlucky-in-love X Factor judge – who welcomed baby Bear just 11 months ago – is alleged to be “heartbroken and humiliated” at the prospect of yet another failed relationship.
“It’s all very sad,” tells our source. “They want to make things work for Bear’s sake, but things are not looking good at all for them.”
Rumours suggest it was Cheryl’s refusal to wed that caused tension between the unlikely pair, who first met in 2008, when Liam was just 14.
With two failed marriages already, the stunning pop star – who divorced footballer Ashley Cole in 2010 and French businessman Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2016 – apparently vowed never again to say “I do”, despite 24-yearold Liam’s desperation to wed.
Ora of tension
“Liam is a total romantic and would have loved to marry Cheryl,” tells a source. “He’s incredibly hurt that she was prepared to do it with the other men before him. It became a real sticking point, but Cheryl just couldn’t go through with it.”
Other sources say that Cheryl, 34, has also become increasingly frustrated with Liam’s hectic touring schedule since launching his solo career, not to mention his friendship with sexy singer Rita Ora. She watched on as Liam and Rita, 27, performed their raunchy Fifty Shades Freed hit “For You”. And it was something Cheryl wasn’t looking forward to.
“The thought of seeing those two writhe around on stage together after all those split rumours was Cheryl’s idea of hell,” tells a friend. “But she knew if she didn’t turn up, things would be even worse. She’s really embarrassed about the whole thing.”
Adding to their woes, the 10-year age gap is also behind the break-up rumours. A source reveals, “If they didn’t have Bear, they’d have most likely split up by now. But they love their son. And they do care for each other, so it’s a matter of seeing if there’s a way forward to try and make it work.”
According to reports, Liam – who is worth $108 million, while Cheryl’s fortune is said to be around $40 million – has sought legal advice over what a split could mean for his finances. “With a young son and a number of assets between them, there’s more to breaking up than just parting ways. He hopes it doesn’t come to it, but he’s just being careful.”