Singer Cheryl has posted about Liam Payne’s death, saying their seven-year-old son Bear “has to face the reality of never seeing his father again”.

The Girls Aloud star and former X Factor judge also hit out at “abhorrent reports” about Payne, saying: “It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect (Bear) from that in his future.”

Payne died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

Follow latest: Liam Payne’s girlfriend posts for first time about his death

Cheryl and the One Direction singer were in a relationship between 2016 and 2018 and welcomed their son in 2017.

In a post on Instagram, she shared a photo of Payne and Bear when he was a baby lying in bed together.

Alongside the photo, Cheryl wrote: “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 seven-year-old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.

“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.”

She added: “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.

“Thank you, Cheryl.”

Tributes have poured in for Payne following his death, including from his One Direction bandmates who issued a joint statement and their own personal messages.

Simon Cowell – who mentored the band on the X Factor and later signed them to his label – paid tribute to Payne on Friday evening, saying he was “truly devastated” and felt “empty”.

The music mogul said Payne’s son would be “so proud” of what his father had achieved during his 31 years.

“I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have,” Cowell added.

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Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy said she was at a “complete loss”, in a tribute also posted on Friday.

The model wrote: “Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”

The pair had been dating for two years. Two days before the singer’s death, Cassidy, 25, reportedly travelled back to her home in Florida, while Payne remained in Argentina.

Simon Cowell has said he is “truly devastated” and “heartbroken” over the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne.

The music mogul and X Factor judge – who mentored the band on the show and later signed them to his label – posted a tribute on Instagram to the 31-year-old singer.

Payne died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

Follow latest: Liam Payne’s girlfriend posts for first time about his death

“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” Cowell wrote.

“Liam, I am truly 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.

“This is so difficult to put into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together.”

Cowell added: “I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”

Cowell also referenced the time he initially rejected Payne for being too young when he first appeared on the X Factor in 2008.

“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again,” he wrote.

Remembering when Payne returned to the talent show’s audition process two years later, Cowell added: “A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam.

“And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.”

He also revealed that the pair had met last year “just to sit and talk”.

“We reminisced about all the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I met all those years ago,” he wrote.

Cowell said he had met Payne’s son Bear, adding that the boy had the singer’s “smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have”.

“He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it,” Cowell added.

Payne and former X Factor judge Cheryl welcomed their son Bear in 2017. Their relationship began in 2016 and ended in 2018.

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Cowell finished his tribute with the words: “I always thought of the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And reading their messages today I believe you were.

“And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.

“Rest in peace my friend.”

He added: “I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family. Simon X”.

Tributes have poured in for Payne following his death, including from his One Direction bandmates who issued a joint statement and their own personal messages.

Cowell will miss filming for Britain’s Got Talent when production resumes on Saturday after it was halted earlier this week in the wake of Payne’s death, according to reports.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli is said to be stepping in to replace Cowell for an unspecified amount of time.

Liam Payne’s father has visited the hotel in Argentina where his son died, as he read tributes left for the One Direction star.

Geoff Payne was seen reading messages and looking at flowers placed outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the capital Buenos Aires.

He was watched on by a crowd of mourners.

Sky correspondent Martha Kelner in Buenos Aires said: “Geoff paused occasionally to put on his glasses to read the notes written in English and picked up the pictures to kiss them.

“He also thanked fans for being there.”

Follow latest: Cheryl posts about Liam Payne’s death

The singer died aged 31 on Wednesday after falling from a balcony on the third floor of the hotel.

Payne’s father arrived in Argentina on Friday to arrange for the return of his son’s body to the UK.

Earlier, he was seen leaving a different hotel in the city, accompanied by British consular officials and security staff.

Argentinian officials said Mr Payne visited the city’s morgue to identify his son before meeting with the local prosecutor’s office to organise the repatriation of his body.

Local media reported he was expected to pick up some of his son’s belongings during the visit.

On Thursday, Payne’s relatives said in a joint statement they were “heartbroken” by his death.

They added: “Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

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Payne expressed gratitude to his parents during several interviews with the media in recent years.

His father, a mechanic, and his mother, a nurse, both made cameos in One Direction: This Is Us, a 2013 concert documentary about the band.

“When I see him on stage I absolutely burst with pride, but we do miss him so much,” Payne’s mother, Karen, said at one point in the film.

Tributes have poured in for Payne following his death, including from his One Direction bandmates who issued a joint statement and their own personal messages.

Simon Cowell – who mentored the band on the X Factor and later signed them to his label – paid tribute to Payne on Friday evening, saying he was “truly devastated” and felt “empty”.

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, who was in a relationship with Payne between 2016 and 2018, and had a son with him in 2017, also spoke of her heartbreak on Friday and hit out at “abhorrent” reports surrounding his death.