Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole Announce Split On Social Media

The music world mourns another breakup from one of its A-Listers. Former One Direction band member Liam Payne and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole announced their breakup Sunday on Twitter. The split comes a little over a year after the exes welcomed their son Bear in March 2017.

Payne and Cole’s romance traces its beginnings at X-Factor UK. It was when Payne became a contestant to the singing competition (subsequently leading him to become part of One Direction) while Cole was a judge on the show. It was a sudden decision when both parties decided about the breakup.

“We are sad to announce that we are going to separate ways,” Cheryl wrote. “It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world, and we ask that you respect as we navigate our way through this together.”

Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. 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.

— Liam (@LiamPayne) July 1, 2018

We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. 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.

— Cheryl (@CherylOfficial) July 1, 2018

In an interview with PEOPLE, Payne defended the situation and relationship but admitted that they had their ups and downs, like most couples.

A few hours before the break up with Cole, Payne tweeted, “when I auditioned for X Factor 10 years ago I had a hole in my George Asda shoes, Borrowed Armani jeans from a friend just a 14-year-old boy with big dreams… crazy what ten years can do.”

https://twitter.com/LiamPayne/status/1013405405404385280

The unlikely couple fell in love after Cole ended her marriage with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, 37, at the end of 2015 after a troubled 18-month marriage. Jean-Bernard and Cole quickly divorced after Cole suffered from stress and weight loss due to their marriage.