Liam Payne has revealed he and ex-girlfriend Cheryl have agreed he should take some time ‘away’ from their son Bear during the lockdown.
The singer, 27, admitted it ‘isn’t usual’ for him to be ‘in and out’ of his three-year-old son’s life as he discussed the extended break from Bear.
During an interview with Tings magazine, Liam said: ‘[Lockdown] it’s the longest I haven’t seen him [Bear] in his life.
For the best: Liam Payne has revealed he and ex-girlfriend Cheryl have agreed he should take some time ‘away’ from their son Bear during the lockdown
‘But we discussed from the start and for different reasons, me and Cheryl decided I should be away for a little bit, it’s not unusual for me to be in and out of his life.
‘He’s a quiet and chill child. He doesn’t worry about things too much.’
Liam also touched on how he and Cheryl, 37, were keen to keep Bear out of the spotlight and as a result he is also a very private father.
He said it works best this way as he gets to be a dad and have a family, which he feels is the opposite of being in the public eye.
Love: The singer, 27, admitted it ‘isn’t usual’ for him to be ‘in and out’ of his three-year-old son’s life as he discussed the extended break from Bear (pictured shortly after son Bear’s birth)
Liam and Cheryl split a year after their son Bear was born following two and a half years together.
Last month it was reported Liam quit drinking, amid fears his party-hard lifestyle will ruin his relationship with Bear.
The reports come from The Sun, whose source said: ‘Liam was taking things a bit far with partying. He was given warnings, heeded them and is now in a good place.
‘The most worrying thing for him was he was told to consider whether he’d be around for Bear if he carried on the way he was going.
None of that: Last month it was reported Liam quit drinking, amid fears his party-hard lifestyle will ruin his relationship with Bear
‘It was a tough warning, probably exaggerated, but it jolted him into action as he’s a devoted dad.’
MailOnline contacted Liam’s representative for comment at the time.
Liam is now engaged to fiancée Maya Henry, 20, with the former One Direction star telling Good Morning America last month: ‘We’re just really happy.
Loved-up! Liam is now engaged to fiancée Maya Henry, 20, with the former One Direction star telling Good Morning America last month: ‘We’re just really happy’
‘I mean, in the last week, I’ve just had a birthday, my son has gone to school for the first time today, so it seems like a lot of firsts for me, really, actually, which is great.’
It was confirmed that the For You hitmaker had popped the question to Maya in August after the brunette beauty was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her left hand after having dinner with Liam at Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London.
The couple were first spotted together back in August 2018, but didn’t make their romance Instagram office until September 2019.
Proposal: It was confirmed that the For You hitmaker had popped the question to Maya in August
Liam has previously described Maya – who he initially met when she was a fan of One Direction – as his ‘best friend’.
He said: ‘I’ve found someone who’s genuinely my best friend. She’s just so relaxed about everything and someone who’s completely got your back with everything is just the wildest thing.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever really experienced that before in someone so it’s quite a wonder to watch actually.’
There it is: The brunette beauty was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her left hand after having dinner with Liam at Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London
The singer has also insisted that Maya had helped him cope with his fame and had given him the confidence to be himself in public and simply relax and not worry about any attention he might receive.
He said: ‘The difference is with [Maya], she’s so relaxed that it helps me relax in a situation, rather than being somewhere and talk about who is watching and what’s going on.
‘People are going to watch whatever. What am I supposed to do? I can’t do anything about it now. It’s too late for that.’