Cheryl reveals 'different perspective' on life after 'loss and grief' of ex-boyfriend Liam Payne

Former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Ann Tweedy has spoken candidly about the profound impact grief has had on her outlook on life following two significant losses. The star was left devastated after the untimely death of her former partner, One Direction's Liam Payne, who died at 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16.

This heartache came after the loss of her close friend and bandmate Sarah Harding, who passed away at 39 in September 2021 following a battle with breast cancer.

Cheryl reflected on how these events reshaped her perspective, telling MailOnline: "A lot of conversations we had before she left really sparked a different perspective for me, and I'll carry that. She wasn't ready to leave and I think, 'well I'm still here', I've got the gift of life to still live, and I'll do it with her in mind. It does shift a lot of things in your own heart."

She continued: "With the loss and our age we just appreciate and love each other so much more. We always have loved each other, obviously. But it's just different, there's a different depth to it all now."

Cheryl expressed her sorrow on Instagram with a photograph of Liam and their young son following the recent distressing news of Liam's death. The songstress, notable for her absence on social media since, first encountered Liam in 2008 when he auditioned on the X Factor and she was judging, reports the Mirror.

At the time, Liam was just 14 while Cheryl was 24 years old. "I like you, I think you're really cute," Cheryl remarked to him, countering Simon Cowell's criticism that he wasn't 'fun' enough, adding: "You've got charisma, you gave us that little cheeky wink!" Two years later, Liam wowed the judges on his return to The X Factor.

Cheryl openly praised him, saying: "You've definitely got it. Whatever it is, you've got it. And your voice is really powerful."

Successfully making it through, Liam became a member of the newly minted One Direction, placed under Simon's mentorship. Meanwhile, Cheryl, in 2016, filed for divorce from her French husband, citing irreconcilable differences in her legal documents.

Despite the formal decree nisi not being issued until October, Cheryl had started shaping a new life for herself by early that year.

When Liam first revealed his new hand tattoo, it didn't seem to hold much significance. However, as time passed, it became evident that the tattoo was a heartfelt homage to Cheryl's famous rose tattoo on her lower back.

Amid rumours of their growing closeness following their individual breakups, Liam posted an image of a rose on Instagram in February with the caption: "Happy Valentine's Day baby."

It wasn't until May 2016, when the pair made a public appearance together at the Global Gift Gala in Cannes, that their relationship was confirmed. Scepticism about their romance was put to rest two days later when Liam changed his Instagram profile picture to one of the couple together.

In 2017, Cheryl and Liam welcomed their son Bear into the world but parted ways a few months later. Despite the split, they remained on good terms, co-parenting their child until Liam's tragic death.