How Liam Payne's ex Cheryl Cole played 'peacemaker' to reunite One Direction before his emotional funeral
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: It’s no secret that saying goodbye to Liam Payne was an emotional rollercoaster for everyone who knew him, especially his One Direction bandmates and family. But one person who stepped up during this difficult time was Cheryl Cole, Liam's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his seven-year-old son Bear.
The former 'X Factor' judge, 41, reportedly acted as a “peacemaker” among the members of One Direction before the funeral. A guest at the service called it “the most emotional funeral you can imagine,” and Cheryl’s efforts to unite the band made it all the more poignant.
Not only did she help smooth over tensions among the bandmates, but she’s also been a rock for Liam’s parents Geoff and Karen, and his sisters Nicola and Ruth in the weeks following his tragic death in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The One Direction reunion didn't go quite as expected
All of Liam’s former bandmates showed up to pay their respects, but the vibe was anything but warm as no one seemed to bury the hatchet. Each member arrived solo, showing just how much life had pulled them in different directions since their One Direction days.
Harry Styles, 30, was the first to arrive — notably escorted not by his old bandmates but by his close friends James Corden, 46, and TV producer Ben Winston, 43. Following Harry, Niall Horan, 31, showed up with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, 27. Then came Zayn Malik, 31, and finally Louis Tomlinson, 32.
The only moment of camaraderie glimpsed outside the church was a brief exchange between Zayn and Louis before Zayn departed alone shortly afterward.
An insider told the Daily Mail that while all the bandmates wanted to be there to honor Liam, their relationships today are far from what they used to be. “Of course, they all wanted to be there; they shared so much with Liam. But that doesn’t mean they are best friends anymore. They haven’t worked together for almost ten years—they have grown apart," they said.
The source added, “In fact, the last time they all met up, it was because Simon Cowell insisted they did after Louis’ mum died, and that was eight years ago.”
One detail that really stood out was Harry arriving with "his super-famous friend" James Corden rather than any of the band members. “It kind of told you what you needed to know about how the boys have drifted apart,” the insider noted.
Reports suggest Harry has very little contact with the others, and the same goes for Niall; albeit he was the last bandmate to see Liam before his death. In fact, Liam had been in Buenos Aires to catch Niall’s concert and the two reportedly had a “quick and fleeting” meeting afterward.
A farewell close to home
The service took place in a church in Buckinghamshire, just 75 kilometers from London and close to Liam’s mansion. It was a fitting location, considering it was where Liam had many special memories with his son, Bear.
When Liam visited Bear, the two would often spend time in the nearby village bonding over their shared love of dinosaurs. Fun fact: Liam had purchased a pair of life-size dinosaur statues a decade ago, and they’ve been fixtures in his garden ever since.
After the service, guests gathered in a circular marquee set up in Liam’s garden for the wake.
A friend of Liam’s explained the significance of the location, “Liam loved his garden. The dinosaurs brought out his inner child and made him happy when things around him were not going so well. And then there was Bear—what little boy wouldn’t want to play with them? It was a place of fond memories, so to remember Liam there was special."
Through all of this, Cheryl has not only been a steadying presence for Liam’s loved ones but also a pillar of strength for Bear.
A friend shared, “Cheryl always dreamed of having the perfect family, but she has had to deal with the most awful tragedy head-on. But she’s tough, and if anyone can get through this, she can.”
