Cheryl Cole arrived at St Mary’s Church to attend the funeral services of her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne. They dated for two years from 2015 to 2017 and have a son, who turned seven this year.
As the singer attended the ceremony, photos of her were taken without her son, but the church decorations included flower arrangements with the word “Daddy” written on them.
Cole and the late singer first met on the set of The X-Factor UK, where Cole was a contestant and Cheryl took the judge’s seat. The Call My Name singer was accompanied by her bandmates Kimberly Walsh and Nicola Roberts.
The musician wore a black coat and high heels, and had sunglasses on her head as she walked past the photographers.
Cole joined Payne’s parents, siblings and friends in the church as the coffin was carried to mourn. Earlier, the mother of the 7-year-old had given a statement following the death of the late musician and asked her followers to provide privacy to her and Bear, who will never see his father again.
“As I try to deal with this earth-shattering event and deal with my grief at this indescribably painful time, I want to remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” the statement said.
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He added, “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity; He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend, and father to our 7-year-old son. A son who must now face the reality of never seeing his father again.”
Payne and Cole were very protective of their son and mostly kept him out of the public eye. However, that didn’t stop the 31-year-old from talking about how great of a mother Cole is. In several interviews, the former boy band member talked about becoming a father at a young age.
“I was so excited about her birth that I was really worried (that) I wouldn’t love her as much,” he revealed.
Speaking further about the mother of his child, Payne said, “Our relationship as friends is even stronger now. We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know that (Bear) is taken care of. She only cares about him and I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
Liam died at the age of 31 after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires. The One Direction member was buried in London a month after his death.
Also read: How long were Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole together? Inside their relationship from X-Factor stage to co-parenting amid 1D star’s death
