Girls Aloud singer releases statement as Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy and X Factor mogul Simon Cowell both pay tribute

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,

Liam and Cheryl first met when he auditioned for The X Factor at 14 and in February 2016 they confirmed they were dating. Cheryl later kept fans guessing for months before revealing her pregnancy at a L'Oreal photoshoot in which she posed in a close-fitting black dress and cradled her bump.

Cheryl Tweedy shared her devastation over the loss of Liam Payne as she asked others to remember he was a 'human being' and to allow her, his son and their loved ones a chance to grieve

Tributes are pouring in for Liam Payne, who shot to fame in the band One Direction, after his shock death aged 31 at a hotel in Argentina. Listen to a Daily special on Payne's story and the challenges of fame as you scroll.

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.