Liam Payne has said welcoming son Bear with ex Cheryl “ruined their relationship -but for all the right reasons”.
The Girls Aloud star, 38, gave birth to their son in 2017 when her and Liam, 28, were still together.
At the time Liam was just 23 and detailed how he struggled to come to terms with becoming a father.
Speaking candidly to US YouTuber Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, the former One Direction singer said: “I like to talk to other new dads. You don’t know what is coming.”
Touching on the breakdown of his two-year relationship with Cheryl he shared: “To be honest with you, it ruined a relationship at that point – but for all the right reasons.
“I was so excited for him to be born that I was actually worried if I wouldn’t love him enough.”
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Praising his ex, Liam called Cheryl “the best mum in the world” and said: “I couldn’t ask for someone better.”
But he revealed it was scary when Bear was first born as Cheryl “haemorrhaged quite badly” after the birth.
This meant she had to rest for much of Bear’s first day in the world – leaving a young Liam to care for his baby son.
“It was me and a baby in the room and I had to take of it. It was fun,” he said.
Just a year after Bear’s birth, Liam and Cheryl announced they had split.
At the time they released a joint statement which said: “We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways.
“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.”
Their son Bear is now five years old and at school, but his parents have never revealed his face to the public preferring to keep his life private.
Discussing the relationship he has with his son, Liam said: “I take my son to school one or two times a week and it’s the best thing.
“The relationship we [him and Cheryl] have now as friends has only grown more.
“We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know he’s [Bear’s] taken care of.
“He is all she cares about and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Talking about the legacy he wants to leave for his son as he grows up, Liam said his life now is all about Bear.
“My life now is his. My money is his. I have several companies he can run if he wants one day or sell – but right now he’s only five so we have a long way to go.”
But one of his biggest fears as Bear gets older is if he wants to follow his famous parents into the entertainment business.
Liam said: “The scariest thing for me is him waking up one day and saying ‘I want to be famous’.
“I’ve protected his face since he was young. I chose to be famous, well a singing career when I was 14... I know you can’t pop the lid back on.”
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