Cheryl Cole Speaks Out on Liam Payne’s Death, Says Their Son Has to “Face Reality of Never Seeing His Father Again”

Cheryl Cole, who shares a 7-year-old son with former One Direction member Liam Payne, is speaking out on the singer’s death .

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In a post shared on Instagram , Cole posted a photo of Payne with their son Bear writing, “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. 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.”

In her statement, Cole addressed some of the negative media coverage and comments about Payne’s death: “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. 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,” she said in closing.

Payne and Cole welcomed their son, Bear, in 2017. He and Cole started dating in 2016 then later announced their split in July 2018.

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Payne died in Buenos Aires, Argentina , on Wednesday after falling from the Casa Sur Hotel balcony. The officials say Payne’s fall resulted in “extremely serious injuries,” and medics confirmed his death on the spot. The Buenos Aires Security Ministry later told The Associated Press that police responded to an emergency call warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

On Thursday, it was revealed that an autopsy in Argentina found that Payne died of trauma and internal and external bleeding.

Following Payne’s death, many people took to social media to pay tribute to the late singer including Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. In his message, Tomlinson said of Bear: “I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.”

Simon Cowell , who helped form One Direction on the U.K. X Factor along with Nicole Scherzinger and was the first music producer to sign the band, also shared a statement: “Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.”

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