Cheryl Begs Public to Consider Her and Liam Payne’s Son Bear, 7, in Aftermath of Singer’s Death: ‘Breaking My Heart’…..full details below

Cheryl Begs Public to Consider Her and Liam Payne’s Son Bear, 7, in Aftermath of Singer’s Death: ‘Breaking My Heart’

The British musician, 31, who died on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, shares his son Bear with ex Cheryl

Cheryl is prioritizing her son with Liam Payne following the singer’s death on Oct. 16.

The former One Direction band member, 31, died after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne and Cheryl, 41, share one son, Bear Grey, 7, whom they have largely kept out of the spotlight.

Cheryl broke her silence on Payne’s death on Friday, Oct. 18, posting a sweet picture of Payne and Bear on her Instagram, as well as a poignant message about her efforts to protect their son.

“As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she begins. “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.”

She continues, “What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future.”

“I am begging you to consider what use some of these reports are serving, other than to cause further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces,” Cheryl says. “Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them.”

“Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last,” the mom adds.

The musicians met on the set of The X Factor in 2008. Payne was a contestant and Cheryl was a judge. Their relationship turned romantic years later and they welcomed Bear in 2017. They split in 2018 and decided to co-parent their child.

Payne had previously admitted to PEOPLE that he “always wanted to be a young dad,” but fatherhood at a young age didn’t come easy. During a later interview in December 2020, he opened up further about how he had “to learn” to be a parent over time.

“I had my son at a young age, and you think it will be a magical thing, that you’re going to grow up one day into the person you’re supposed to be,” he told PEOPLE. “But it took a lot to find my footing. I figured, Dad takes care of everyone, that’s what he does, so my thing was to cook.”

The singer focused on spending a lot of quality time with his son while simultaneously building a solo music career.

“I see him two times a week, three times a week sometimes,” he said of Bear in 2022. “And I make sure when I see him, he has 100 percent of my time.”

“I like to give him those moments and it’s important, he needs that in his life, he needs his dad in his life, and I’m happy he looks at me like a superhero,” Payne added, “and I’m hoping to keep it that way.”

The former boy bander was linked to model Maya Henry following his relationship with Cheryl but the two split in 2022. At the time of his death, he was dating girlfriend Kate Cassidy.