Liam Payne and Cheryl's Relationship: A Look Back

Mar. 15, 2025

Cheryl and Liam Payne in February 2018.Photo:Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Liam PayneandCheryl’s short-lived romance was one for the books.

The future boyband member auditioned forX Factorin 2008 at 14 years old, where Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole was a judge. At the time, Payne was cut, but Simon Cowell encouraged him to return to the show in two years. Keeping his promise, the then-aspiring singer returned in 2010 and earned yeses across the board, eventually going on to formOne Direction.

Well into One Direction’s success and after Cheryl’s divorce from French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, Payne, then 23, began courting his formerX Factorjudge who was10 years his seniorin 2016.

By 2017, the pair welcomed their first son,Bear Grey. Payne and Cheryl would then split in 2018 and have remained close co-parents ever since.

“I couldn’t ask someone better. The relationship we have with each other now as friends has only grown more," Payne said about Cheryl onLogan Paul’sImpaulsivepodcastin 2022. “We broke up for a reason and now, she gives me full autonomy of my own life to be able to go and do what I do and at the same time I know he’s been taken care of because he’s all she cares about. You couldn’t ask for more.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Payne was pronounceddead at 31at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to PEOPLE. He died of multiple injuries and “internal and external” hemorrhages after falling from his hotel balcony, according to a preliminary autopsy report.

From Payne’s firstX Factoraudition to his eventual split from Cheryl and co-parenting journey, here is a look back at the musicians' relationship.

2008: Liam Payne auditions forX Factorwhere Cheryl is a judge

Liam Payne; Cheryl Cole in 2008.Beretta/Sims/Shutterstock; Danny Martindale/FilmMagic

Beretta/Sims/Shutterstock; Danny Martindale/FilmMagic

A fresh-faced, 14-year-old Liam Payneauditionedfor the fifth season ofX Factor UKwith a rendition ofFrank Sinatra’s"Fly Me to the Moon."

“When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time,” Payne said in his pre-audition interview. While he was ultimately eliminated at the Boot Camp stage, Cowell asked him to return for the judges' houses stage. Payne was cut a second time, although he was encouraged to return in two years when he would meet the show’s updated minimum age of 16.

2010: Liam Payne returns toX Factorand One Direction Is formed

In 2010, Paynereturnedto theX Factorstage andmet Cheryl again.This time, he sangMichael Bublé’sversion of “Cry Me a River.” A shocked Cowell gave him a standing ovation and Cheryl told him, “You’ve definitely got it. Whatever it is, you got it.”

Along withNiall Horan,Harry Styles,Zayn MalikandLouis Tomlinson, Payne failed to make it past the boot camp stage as a solo artist. However, the musicians werebrought togetheras a five-piece boy band for the “groups” category. They enjoyed immediate success despite finishing third on the seventh season ofX Factor, and went on to become one of the most successful boy bands in history as One Direction.

One Direction in November 2010.Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

December 2015: Cheryl and Liam Payne reunite at the 2015X Factorfinal

One Direction’s final performance before their split was at the 2015X Factorfinal, where they performed “History” and “Infinity,” perBillboard.

January 2016: Cheryl files for divorce from Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini

Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini on July 21, 2014.Mark Robert Milan/GC Images

Mark Robert Milan/GC Images

After meeting at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, Cheryl married Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after a three-month courtship, perThe Mirror UK. By January 2016, the pair filed for divorce — which was finalized in October 2016 — with Cheryl citing irreconcilable differences, according to the outlet.

April 2016: Cheryl shuts down rumors she cheated on Jean-Bernard with Liam Payne

In fiery post onX (formerly Twitter), Cheryl appeared to address rumors that she cheated on ex-husband Jean-Bernard with Payne where she wrote, “If anybody believes the s— they’re reading today you really don’t know me at all.”

May 2016: Liam Payne and Cheryl make their red carpet debut

Cheryl and Liam Payne attend the Global Gift Gala in Paris on May 9, 2016.Kristy Sparow/Getty

Kristy Sparow/Getty

After months of speculation and some internet flirting, Cheryl and Payne finally made their red debut at the Global Gift Gala, where the Girls Aloud singer was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropist Award, perE! News.

At the time, Payne gushed about Cheryl and her achievementon X:“So proud of her tonight” with kiss emojis.

November 2016: Liam Payne and Cheryl are expecting their first child

Liam Payne and Cheryl at The Fayre of St James' Church on Nov. 29, 2016.Mark Robert Milan/GC Images

While the couple never announced the pregnancy publicly, Cherylposed for a photoshootin all black for L’Oreal and The Prince’s Trust in February 2017 where she was seen cradling her stomach.

March 22, 2017: Liam Payne and Cheryl welcome their son, Bear

July 2, 2018: Liam Payne and Cheryl announce their split

Cheryl and Liam Payne on Feb. 21, 2018.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

A little over a year since welcoming their first and only child, Payne and Cheryl took to social media to announcetheir split.

“Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together,” Paynewrote on X.

Cheryl’sstatement on X, which was nearly similar, read: “We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”

source: people.com