Cheryl on Liam Payne: ‘The Only Man Who Never Cheated on Me’—Defends Ex Despite Their Split
Cheryl has referred to her ex-partner Liam Payne as the “only man who never cheated on her,” continuing to defend him even after their relationship ended, told the Daily Record. The pair first became romantically involved in 2016, following Cheryl’s divorce from Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini. In 2017, they welcomed their son, Bear, into the world. However, less than a year later, Cheryl and Liam announced their separation, while remaining committed to co-parenting and maintaining a positive relationship for the sake of their son.
A 2018 interview Cheryl gave has resurfaced after the tragic passing of Liam Payne. In it, the former Girls Aloud star reflected on her past relationships, including her marriage to footballer Ashley Cole, which ended amid infidelity. She told The Sunday Times Style magazine that Liam was “the only man who has ever been faithful” to her.
Despite their breakup, Cheryl has expressed that she found true fulfillment in her son, Bear, calling him the “man of her dreams.” In the interview, she stated, “I’m not looking for anything anymore. I’m whole. I’ve got the man of my dreams.”
At the time of their separation, rumors circulated suggesting that Liam had been unfaithful, but he firmly denied these claims. Instead, the Strip That Down singer revealed that the pressures of becoming a father at a young age contributed to their split. Speaking in the 2019 documentary Ant Middleton and Liam Payne: Straight Talking, Liam opened up about his struggles with fatherhood. He explained that becoming a father at just 23 “messed [him] up” and caused him to overthink his responsibilities. “I think it spooked me out early on, and I was just worried I would not be enough to look after the both of them,” he admitted, told The Mirror.
Liam also revealed that he hadn’t fully understood what Cheryl was going through at the time, particularly following her serious haemorrhage after Bear’s birth. Cheryl had taken a break from her career to focus on their son, and despite the difficulties, Liam consistently praised her as “the best mum in the world.”
In a 2019 interview, Cheryl expressed her gratitude for their successful co-parenting relationship. “There’s no animosity whatsoever. We are learning all the time. And it’s good, it’s healthy,” she said. Cheryl emphasized that while they were under the public eye, they were just like any other couple navigating the challenges of raising a child together after a breakup.
Cheryl has remained quiet about Liam in recent months, with speculation suggesting she may be doing so to protect their son Bear from further public scrutiny. Despite their split, Cheryl has consistently taken the high road, speaking positively about Liam and their shared journey as parents.