Singer-turned-actress Cheryl, 39, is facing fresh backlash over her previous relationship with ex Liam Payne, 29, and their 10-year age gap.
The former couple, who share son Bear, six, originally met on the lent show X Factor in 2008 when 14-year-old Liam auditioned.
At the time Cheryl was married to footballer Ashley Cole, 42, and it wasn’t until 2016 that the two got together, dating for almost two years before splitting up.
However, despite the very innocent journey to their relationship, Cheryl and Liam are facing fresh scrutiny following Phillip Schofield ’s recent admission that he had an affair with a much younger colleague.
After news of the relationship broke, conversations began on Twitter with one person writing: "Cheryl met Liam Payne aged 14, and later had a kid with him."
Someone else added: "Cheryl met Liam Payne when she was a judge on X Factor. He was 14 at the time. She went on to have a relationship with him several years later."
“How come no one is questioning Cheryl Cole when she met Liam Payne at 14?! I don't agree with Phillip Scofield’s lies or cheating however we have to look at the bigger picture and if its questioned for a man why not a woman?!,” wrote a third social media user.
And another person asked: “What do we think about Cheryl Cole who had a baby with Liam Payne who she’d known since he was 14? In air of Philip Schofield, obviously.”
Following the fresh airing of the initial meeting, former Girls Aloud star Cheryl has reportedly spoken to friends about having her say on the matter.
Speaking to Heat magazine, the source claimed: "Cheryl fears this is going to blow it all up for her, because no one wants to be associated with anything like that.
"She’d love nothing more than to have her say, but she knows it never comes out that way.
"For Cheryl, the 14-year-old thing is so twisted, and infuriating – she was married at the time, and there was absolutely no link with Liam there at all."
Despite some people bringing up Cheryl and Liam’s first meeting, many Twitter users were quick to support the former couple.
One person wrote in their defence to a previous comment: “Because they had no relationship in between his auditioning & their romantic relationship years later.”
“Was she in a sexual relationship with him at 14? Was she in constant contact “guiding him” through media? Two completely different situations no comparison,” responded another user.
And a third follower commented: “Liam was 23 or 24 when he and Cheryl got together. They were public about their relationship and he is the father of her child. Its not the same at all.”
The Mirror has approached both Cheryl and Liam for comment.
