Singer Liam Payne confirmed on Sunday that he and girlfriend Cheryl Cole – with whom he has a son, Bear – have separated.
"Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways," the former One Direction star shared on Twitter. "It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."
Payne and Cole started dating in early 2016 and welcomed Bear in March 2017. She was previously married to soccer player Ashley Cole and then to restauranteur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.
On Monday, Cole – a singer and former member of Girls Aloud – spoke out about reports that her mother Joan was to blame for the split from Payne.
"I can assure you she has absolutely nothing to do with any of it," she tweeted. "I am a grown woman who is capable of dealing with my own life."