Liam Payne's seven-year-old son Bear was the reason the late singer was able to quit alcohol for a while

The world was stunned on Wednesday, October 16, by the news of Liam Payne's tragic passing. The former One Direction member lost his life after a fatal fall from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While Payne was widely known for his success alongside Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson in the globally acclaimed boy band, his most cherished role was that of a father.

He was the proud parent of Bear Gray Payne, his seven-year-old son, whom he had with singer Cheryl Cole. Bear was born on March 22, 2017 and even after Payne and Cole ended their relationship in 2018, they continued to co-parent.

Liam had always embraced the idea of being a young father and despite facing personal challenges, he remained committed to being present for his son.

Journey to sobriety

In 2023, Payne opened up about his journey to sobriety, revealing that he had been sober for almost six months. He credited Bear and Cheryl for their unwavering support, which helped him through a difficult period, including his time in rehab.

The couple shared joint custody of Bear and chose to keep him out of the public eye, only offering occasional glimpses on social media.

Payne believed it was important to give his son the freedom to grow up away from the pressures of fame, allowing him to decide his own path in life. As Bear has grown older, he has reportedly begun to understand more about his parents' celebrity status.

"It's been a difficult ride, but it's fantastic watching him grow into the person he's become," Payne told People in 2020. "He's a really lovely boy and I feel like he's in the middle of settling into himself. He looks exactly like me, which is very strange. When family members see baby pictures of me now, they say, 'Oh wow, Bear looks really great there!'"