It was November 2019 when former One Direction star Liam Payne opened up about how his relationship with ex-partner, Cheryl Cole and becoming a dad at a young age took its toll on his mental health.
The then 26-year-old – who was found dead in Argentina in October 2024 – made the admission in the documentary Ant Middleton and Liam Payne: Straight Talking, in which they travelled to Namibia together.
During the candid interview the singer opened up about becoming a father at the age of 23 and how it affected his relationship with British pop star, Cheryl.
“Becoming a dad at such a young age, it’s such a difficult thing. And I think I built fatherhood up so much in my head that it kind of messed me up to start with. I started in a bad place with it,” he told Middleton.
“I think it spooked me out early on, and I was just worried I would not be enough to look after the both of them. They’re so important to me — Cheryl as well.”
Payne and Cole had split by the time the documentary aired but Liam admitted that his ex-partner was still a huge part of his life.
“She’s one of the most, if not the most, important people in my life”,’ he added. “I’m lucky I have someone who understands what I’m going through.”
He continued: “The one thing I was missing as a man in the relationship I had, was a level understanding about what she was feeling about stuff.
“I think I learnt through being away that, while I want to protect her, there’s a big part of her that wants to protect me.”
Speaking after news of Payne’s death broke, Middleton told The Morning Show about the bond the pair had shared.
“After we filmed Straight Talking With Ant Middleton, he was my first celebrity guest and we formed a brotherhood,” Middleton told the show’s Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur.
“He was like a younger brother to me. He would confide in me, I’d go around and see him.
“There were some issues there, but nothing that a young celebrity at his calibre wouldn’t suffer from.
“I’m just shocked at the moment, wow, don’t really know what to say.”
Middleton went on to say Payne had a “positive energy around him”
“He was a visionary, he always thought and dreamed big, and that’s why he got to where he was, and he was loved,” Middleton told the show.
“He was one of those band members that was the glue, I believe, was the glue for One Direction, and it’s a shame to see such a positive individual die so young.”
He added that he wanted to find out what had happened to his “good friend”.
Liam and Cheryl first met when he was 14 and she was 24 following his audition for X Factor UK.
The couple made their relationship public in May 2016 and welcomed their son, Bear in March 2017.
Liam then went on to date Texan model Maya Henry.
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