Liam Payne recently sent fans into a panic after being hospitalised for a serious kidney infection while on holiday with girlfriend Kate Cassidy – just weeks after cancelling his South American solo tour.
And now, ex-partner Cheryl, 40 – with whom he shares son Bear, six – Liam, 30, is said to be intent on nursing the star back to health.
The source says, “Cheryl has been beside herself with worry over Liam’s health issues and feels she should be doing more for her son’s dad. She knows Liam so well, and they’ve long had an agreement that family matters come first, so that’s what Cheryl’s mindset is now. Although they’re exes, they’ve always remained close. Liam is Bear’s dad, so her instinct has kicked in now and she wants to do all she can to help.
“Cheryl is worried things could escalate into something more serious, and she would never forgive herself if she looked back and thought she could have been more present and helpful. She wants her and Bear to temporarily move in with Liam in the hope that it will lift his spirits and get him on the road to recovery.”
Liam’s recent medical emergency took place while he was celebrating his one-year anniversary with girlfriend Kate, 24, in Lake Como, Italy.
Last week, Kate updated fans on social media, saying that Liam had left hospital after a week-long stint, saying, “He is doing so much better. He is out of the hospital and he is in good hands”.
While Liam and American model Kate have been dating for 13 months, Liam was previously in a relationship with Cheryl from 2016 to 2018. Their romance raised eyebrows due to their 10-year age gap, and the fact former X Factor judge Cheryl had first met Liam when he was a teenager.
The couple welcomed their son Bear in March 2017, before announcing their split the following year, and have continued to remain close, co-parenting Bear together.
And insiders now say that despite Liam’s relationship with Kate, Cheryl is keen to step in and get hands-on with his recovery.
The insider says, “Cheryl doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but when her mama bear instincts kick in, she just does what she feels is needed. She knows Kate is probably doing her best, but at the end of the day, Liam has a lot of girlfriends that come and go in his life. He’s the father of Cheryl’s child so she feels she has to be involved in this situation.”
Cheryl – who was previously married to Ashley Cole and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini – has been single since her split from Liam, choosing to place her focus on being a mother as well as recently reviving her career – starring in 2:22: A Ghost Story in London’s West End.
Opening up in 2021 about learning to be happy on her own, the star said, “I am learning that I can be absolutely fine without anybody, just me by myself.”
And the source now adds that Cheryl is adamant it’s purely platonic, with the star just wanting to be there to look after him – leaving any thought of romance on the sidelines.
The source says, “She has assured her friends and family that this is not her trying to get back with him in any way or push Kate out of the picture. She’s thinking of Bear and wants Liam to be on top form as a father. He’s only 30 and should be in his prime right now, which is why Cheryl wants to make sure he’s looking after himself. She can now see how serious things have been getting – which is why she feels it’s time to take matters into her own hands.”