Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend, Cheryl Cole, who is also the mother of his only child, has spoken out following the former One Direction singer’s tragic death.

The Girls Aloud star and former X Factor judge describes her former partner's death as an "earth-shattering event" and says it is an "indescribably painful time".

Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne first met when he auditioned on The X Factor - and as the talent show's judge, the pop star complimented his 'powerful' singing voice

Cheryl Cole has paid an emotional tribute to her ex-partner Liam Payne, speaking of an “indescribably painful time” and criticising the media for its reporting. The Girls Aloud singer, 41, was in a relationship with Payne for two years and shares with him a 7-year-old son,

One Direction star Liam Payne, who tragically died falling from the third floor of a hotel on Wednesday, proudly had a son called Bear, whom he shared with ex Cheryl

Cheryl Cole, who shared a son with Liam Payne, has issued a statement on the death of the superstar. In a paragraph posted to Instagram, Cole pleaded with the media to stop with “abhorrent reports” and “media exploitation” of his death for the sake of their son Bear.

Liam Payne’s former partner Cheryl Cole, the mother of their seven-year-old son Bear, spoke out for the first time on Friday, criticizing the “abhorrent” media reports that surfaced after Payne’s death earlier this week.

Singer and former "The X Factor" judge Cheryl Cole called media outlets out for taking advantage of ex-partner Liam Payne's sudden death when they posted cropped photos of his lifeless body. "As I try to navigate this earth shattering event,