Liam PayneandgirlfriendCherylare parting ways.
The couple — who firstwent public with their romance in 2015— announced their split on Twitter Sunday.
“Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways,” wrote Payne, 24. “It’s been a tough decision for us to make.”
Mentioning their sonBear, who celebrated his first birthday on March 22, Payne continued, “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.”
At the same time, Cheryl, 35, posted a similar announcement on Twitter.
Payne and Cheryl’s romance owes its origins to theX Factor U.K.The pair first met while Cheryl was a judge on the show, and Payne a contestant, in 2008. The“Strip That Down”singer was paired withHarry Styles,Niall Horan,Louis TomlinsonandZayn Malikon the reality competition series to create former boy bandOne Direction.
The same month that Bear arrived, Payneopened up about his lady love for the first time.
“She is a wonderful, wonderful person and it’s amazing to have someone who can relate to so much of things — someone who’s taken greater steps than me,” Paynetold U.K.’sRollacoastermagazineof Cheryl.
He added, “She’sbeen my dream girlsince I was younger. She’s so ace.”
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Liam Payne and Cheryl
In an interview withThe Sunin May 2017, Payne seemed to insinuate that the couple had no plans to wed, telling the outlet, “I see marriage as more of a religious thing and I’m not really a religious person.”
As breakup speculation amped up earlier this year, it appeared the duo still supported each other. After Cheryl posted a photo of herselfposing with a sign for the Prince’s Trust “Youth Can Do It” campaignon Feb. 20, Payne commented, “Very proud of you! How you find the time to do this [I’ll] never know.”
He continued, “Over many years you’ve put all this together and put your heart into such a great cause! I hope one day I can do the same.”
In March,Payne shut down rumors that the relationship was on the rocks, but admitted toES Magazinethat the couple faced “struggles.”
“The funniest thing was a week before we were getting married. The next week we’re splitting up,” he said of reports that the pair were putting on a “loved-up display” at the 2018 BRIT Awards in February.
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Cheryl and Liam Payne
“And the thing for me is, I just like to think we’re somewhere in the middle. You know, we have our struggles — like of course I’m not gonna sit here and say that everything’s absolutely fine and dandy, because of course you go through different things, and that’s what a relationship is,” he continued. “But we go through them together as a family and that’s the most important thing for me.”
Mike Marsland/WireImage
Cheryl previously addressed gossip that they put on an act for the cameras during their recent appearance together on Twitter.
“Your ‘stunt’ theories are just ludicrous and a bit weird,” she said in February.
Cheryl waspreviously marriedto Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini for 19 months. Paynesplit up with longtime girlfriend Sophia Smithin October 2015.
source: people.com
