Liam Payne’s ex Cheryl is giving fans a rare glimpse into life with their son, Bear.
The singer, 42, shared a carousel of photos and videos from a recent Walt Disney World trip with 9-year-old Bear Grey, showing sweet mother-son moments from their getaway. In one video, Cheryl wore a Mickey Mouse backpack while holding Bear’s hand as they walked through the park. In another photo, Bear, dressed in a gray sweatsuit, appeared to shy away from the camera on a ride.
Alongside the post, Cheryl reflected on how much the trip meant to her, saying Disney helped her reconnect with her “inner child.”
“Somewhere in the corners of the world Magic still exists 💫✨🪄 I don’t know what took me so long to experience the joys of @waltdisneyworld but I completely escaped into my inner child for the last couple of weeks. What a wonderful place. 🥰,” she wrote.
Per People, Bear is Cheryl’s only child with the late Liam Payne, and the rare post offered a small but meaningful update on life with their son following Liam’s passing in October 2024.
At the time, Cheryl called the loss an “earth-shattering event” and reminded people that Liam was not just a celebrity, but also a father to Bear.
Before his passing, Liam also shared a rare update about his son during a Snapchat video posted around his 31st birthday. He joked that he had not received any “dad socks” yet, but said he was excited to talk to Bear later that day. He also called him a “big boy” and said he looked like his “mini-me,” adding with a laugh, “As if we need any more me in the world.”
From “The X Factor” to Parenthood
Cheryl and Liam’s story goes back much further than many fans realize.
According to Us Weekly, the two first met in 2008 when Liam auditioned for “The X Factor” at just 14 years old and Cheryl was one of the judges. He returned to the show in 2010, eventually becoming part of One Direction, but their connection did not turn romantic until 2016.
That year, after Cheryl’s split from ex-husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, the pair were linked romantically and later made their red carpet debut as a couple. In March 2017, they welcomed their son Bear.
Although they split in July 2018 after two years together, they remained committed coparents. Cheryl previously said their focus was always keeping things settled and happy for Bear, while Liam often praised her publicly as an incredible mother.
In 2023, Liam also shared that Cheryl and Bear gave him the freedom and support he needed while stepping back from the spotlight to focus on his health, saying there was “no point trying to be a dad” if he was not in a good place himself.
Cheryl Was Later Named Administrator of Liam’s Estate
In May 2025, Cheryl was officially named one of the administrators of Liam’s estate after it was revealed he passed away without a will.
According to People, Cheryl and attorney Richard Mark Bray were appointed to manage his estate, which had a gross U.K. value of about $38 million and a net value of roughly $32.2 million.
Because Liam was not married at the time, U.K. law would typically mean his child would inherit the estate. Cheryl and Bray were given authority to manage the finances, though they could not yet distribute the money.
At the time of his passing, Liam had been dating influencer Kate Cassidy, but Cheryl remained closely connected to his legacy through their son.
For now, Cheryl’s latest Disney post served as a quiet but heartfelt reminder that even through grief, she is focused on creating joyful memories with Bear — and holding onto a little bit of magic along the way.
