Liam Payne and ex Cheryl Cole first crossed paths in 2008 however didn’t begin their romance till a lot later.

In 2008, Payne auditioned to be on X Issue for the primary time at age 14. Cole was one of many judges alongside Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh.

“Let’s handle the elephant within the room,” Payne stated whereas rewatching his first audition in a section for Esquire in Could 2020. “Clearly, the long run mom of my son is sitting in that chair. That is now an episode of How I Met Your Mom, in order that’s sufficient of that I believe.”

Whereas Payne didn’t make it by means of the primary time, he returned to the present two years later the place Cole remained a choose. He turned a member of One Path, which went on to make boyband historical past.

Regardless of figuring out one another throughout these early years, Cole and Payne’s connection didn’t flip romantic till almost a decade later. The pair have been first linked in 2016 after Cole’s break up from ex-husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.

The next 12 months, Cole and Payne welcomed their first baby, son Bear. In July 2018, Payne and Cole referred to as it quits. The duo remained amicable as they coparented son Bear.

In October 2024, Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died at age 31 after falling from a resort balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Preserve scrolling for a glance again on Payne and Cole’s relationship timeline:

2008

In his X Issue audition, Payne sang “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra. As he crooned the ballad, he winked at Cole. After finishing his efficiency, Cole gushed over his expertise and referred to as him “actually cute.” Payne made it to the following spherical however was minimize by Cowell on the Judges’ Homes.

2010

Two years after his first rejection, Payne returned to the present the place Cole was nonetheless a choose. He turned a member of One Path alongside Harry Types, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

December 2015

Cole and Payne reunited on the X Issue finale the place One Path carried out. The twosome shared a hug on stage.

February 2016

One month after Cole filed for divorce from Fernandez-Versini, rumors swirled that she and Payne have been courting.

Could 2016

The couple made their crimson carpet debut as an merchandise on the International Present Gala in Paris. Cole was honored with the International Present Philanthropist Award. Payne took to X to gush about her achievement.

“So pleased with her tonight 😘😘such a particular award #GlobalGiftGala,” he captioned a selfie of him and Cole along with her award.

March 2017

After one 12 months of courting, the twosome introduced they welcomed their son, Bear.

“On Wednesday twenty second March Liam and I turned mother and father to an extremely lovely, wholesome child boy, weighing 7lb 9 and looking out like a dream,” Cole wrote through Instagram on the time. “Though he nonetheless doesn’t have a reputation he’s already stealing hearts. We’re all head over heels in love and overwhelmingly pleased with our little arrival. Blissful Mom’s Day to all of the moms all over the world. A day that now has a distinct which means to me eternally 💙”

Payne shared his personal announcement, gushing about turning into a father.

“My shut family and friends know there are only a few instances after I’m left speechless… wow! I’m extremely pleased to welcome our new child boy into the world,” he penned. “It’s a second that I’ll always remember for the remainder of my life and my favorite reminiscence I’ve to date. I’m utterly in awe of his unbelievable mom and the way she has been the entire means by means of this, she’s actually made my desires come true”

July 2018

Payne shared that he and Cole referred to as it quits after two years of courting.

“Cheryl and I are unhappy to announce that we’re going our separate methods. It’s been a tricky resolution for us to make,” he wrote through X. “We nonetheless have a lot love for one another as a household. Bear is our world and we ask that you simply respect his privateness as we navigate our means by means of this collectively.”

April 2019

Lower than one 12 months after their break up, Cole opened up about how she and Payne have been tackling coparenting.

“[Liam is] a lot softer than me. However it’s what it’s, and I’m OK about it,” she stated in an interview with The Telegraph. “When you’ve a child, you aren’t consumed with simply fascinated by your self. It’s your accountability to maintain issues settled and pleased, so that you make the perfect of every part. And we’ve.”

Could 2019

The next month, Payne solely informed Us that whereas Bear is well-behaved, he does have his moments.

“Generally he’ll kind of have a go at his mum and I’ll be like, ‘Bear, cease it,’” he stated. “He simply wouldn’t hearken to me immediately. … He simply needs to silence me along with his hand. He’s like, ‘Simply give me a minute. I’m busy.’”

December 2019

Whereas Payne moved on with Maya Henry, he shared that he deliberate on spending the vacations with Cole and his son.

“I’m going to go down and see Bear, possibly cook dinner a Christmas dinner and simply hang around with household,” Payne stated on the ITV present. “I love to do Sunday roasts. It brings you again to normality. We’re going to go down and cook dinner some good meals and hang around.”

March 2020

In honor of the U.Okay.’s Mom’s Day, Payne penned a touching tribute for Cole.

“Double big day immediately because of 2 very particular girls and a really particular little man,” he wrote through X. “Blissful Mom’s Day mum and Cheryl you two are essentially the most wonderful moms Bear and I may have requested for, thanks for elevating me proper and thanks Cheryl for displaying my son all of the love on the earth.”

July 2023

Payne bought candid about how grateful he was to have Cole and Bear by his aspect whereas he took a hiatus from the general public eye.

“Greater than something, I wish to say thanks to him and his mum for giving me somewhat little bit of freedom to go and get nicely in that second as a result of I needed to. There’s no level making an attempt to be a dad while you’ve bought nothing to show and I don’t suppose up till this level I actually had a lot to say to him different than simply caring for him very deeply and loving him deeply, which is clearly crucial factor.”