...AND LIAM GIVES UP PARTYING FOR BEAR
He’s ditched the booze for good
e spent the majority of lockdown away from his son Bear, who isolated with his mum Cheryl in their Buckinghamshire home. But according to insiders, Liam Payne’s not going to let anything get in the way of their father-son bonding time ever again – and he has gone teetotal in the process.
“Liam was taking things a bit far with partying,” said a source close to the 27 year old last week. “He was given warnings, paid attention to them, and is now in a good place. The most worrying thing for him was he was told to consider whether he’d be around for Bear if he carried on the way he was going. It was a tough warning, probably exaggerated, but it forced him into action as he’s a
Hdevoted dad.” Liam may not be known as a hellraiser, but he’s been open in the past about using medication and alcohol as a way to deal with the pressures of being in a worldfamous boy band. Last year, he said he used to take an epilepsy drug as “a little bit of help to keep me stable” while on the road. He also said, “Doing a show, then being stuck by yourself in a country where you can’t go anywhere, what else are you going to do? The mini bar is always there.”
Still, despite living life in the fast lane from a very young age – he joined One Direction at 16 – it seems Liam is happy to now be living a more laid-back, sober lifestyle.
The newly engaged singer, who proposed to his girlfriend Maya Henry, 20, in August, is now focused on planning their wedding, doubling down on his successful solo career, maintaining a good co-parenting relationship with Cheryl, and making up for lost time with Bear.
In September, he said that he was “just really happy”, adding proudly, “My son has gone to school for the first time today.” They grow up so fast, don’t they? The One Direction boys, that is – and their offspring. ■