daddy's boy
Liam Payne’s final tribute to son Bear as he tells fans ‘he looks like a mini me’ on star’s 31st birthday
The star had spoken about wanting to be present in his son's life
LIAM Payne walked hand-in-hand with his son Bear in a final post with the lad he had once described as a “mini me”.
In the video from March, the singer ruffles his boy’s hair and, alongside a bear and a teary-eyes emoji, he wrote: “Bear is so tall.”
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In a separate video in August, he said: “He’s getting so big now. He’s a big boy and he looks like a mini me. As if we needed any more me in the world.”
Liam welcomed his now seven-year-old son with then-girlfriend Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, 41, in March 2017, after they had been dating for a year.
When they split the following year, Liam wrote: “We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world.”
He was co-parenting with the former X Factor judge, whom he met on the hit ITV1 talent show, and said he saw his son up to two to three times a week.
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But Cheryl now faces the heartbreaking reality of raising their son without his dad.
A few weeks before the touching video, Liam shared a photo of the back of Bear’s head looking up at a billboard advertising his new single Teardrops.
It comes as
- One Direction fans hold candlelit vigils outside the hotel
- The singer posted on Snapchat just minutes before his death
- Rylan Clark and Dermot O'Leary paid tribute to the singer
- His ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence after his death
- Liam's girlfriend Kate Cassidy's message before he died
- Harry Styles' mum pays heartbreaking tribute to the star
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He captioned it: “I want to be on a billboard one day Daddy”, alongside another bear emoji and a love heart.
He and Cheryl agreed not to post his face anywhere to protect his privacy.
Chilling hotel 911 call revealed as Liam Payne was ‘behaving erratically & had to be carried back to his room’
In an interview with People in 2022, he gushed: “I make sure when I see him, he has 100 per cent of my time and I’m not d***ing around.
“I like to give him those moments and it’s important.
“He needs his dad in his life and I’m happy he looks at me like a superhero. I’m hoping to keep it that way.”
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Tributes to Liam Payne
SHOCKED friends, family and fans have paid heartbreaking tributes to Liam as news of the singer's death circulated across the world.
Harry Styles’ mum Anne was among the first from One Direction's camp to share her reaction, posting a photo of Liam and writing 'Just a boy...' alongside a broken heart emoji.
Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden shared an image of the pair together with the words: "Such an awful tragedy.
"Sending love to his family and all those who loved him."
X Factor star Olly Murs told fans he was "devastated" and "lost for words".
He wrote on social media: “Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his Family and of course his son Bear losing a dad x".
Liam Gallagher said he was "very sad" and told his followers on X: "Life is precious Kids, you only get to do it once, go easy."
Former X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary has also expressed his shock and spoke on This Morning today.
He said: “I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.
“He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball reacted to the "devastating news" on her show today and told fans she hugged her own son Woody tight this morning.
JLS band member Marvin Humes reflected on his memories with the singer, sharing: "I first met Liam in 2008 with the JLS boys whilst auditioning for X Factor..he was 14 years old..
"We instantly clicked and looked at him as a little brother..that year it worked out for us but not for him and then 2 years later he went back to audition and One Direction was born..the rest is history..
"Absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news..Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro..just can’t believe that things have ended this way..it’s shocking..my thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends brother..RIP."
Niall Horan's brother Greg shared an emotional tribute to Liam, praising him as a "top young man".
He added: "You will be forever missed. Liam, words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys.
"My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers.
"10th October we met and we started out that evening as 5 families into one big one 1D family thank you for all the laughs bro watch down on all your family and mind them lots of love kiddo x x x 1D 4 LIFE x x x"
German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.
The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: "RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…"
American singer, Charlie Puth, who was friends with Liam and also collaborated with him on a song called Bedroom Floor, has posted a series of Instagram stories dedicated to him.
Alongside photos of the two of them together in their younger days, Charlie wrote: "I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.
"He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone...
"I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace. I am so sorry..."
Irish singer duo Jedward also took to social media, saying: "RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family."
In another tweet, they added: "Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne."
American media personality Paris Hilton shared: ";So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend."
ITV weather presenter Alex Beresford shared a news video about Liam's tragic death on Instagram, adding: "Can't believe this! RIP Liam."
Meanwhile Love Island star Molly Marsh penned: "I'm so taken aback, rest in peace."
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