Cheryl Tweedy shared a previously unseen picture of Liam Payne with their son as she made an emotional statement regarding his death.

The Girls Aloud star posted a black and white photo of Liam laying in bed facing the tiny baby as he gazed back at him captioning the image with a broken heart emoji. She added a second slide to the carousel on Instagram where she wrote out her feelings after an unimaginable couple of days since Liam’s death.

Cheryl begged for some kindness and respect to be shown for Liam as she highlighted the harsh reality that both she and their son Bear Grey Payne now face. Her post read in full: “As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.

“Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.Liam Payne issue emotional message after tour cancellations

“What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future.”

She added: “I am begging you to consider what use some of these reports are serving, other than to cause further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces. Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them. Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last. Thank you, Cheryl.”

Cheryl and Liam first met when he auditioned for the X Factor in 2008 at the age of 14. The pair would not become a couple until years later in 2016 and dated for two years until they split in 2018 after welcoming now seven-year-old son, Bear, in 2017. Troubling reports over recent days have seen images shared of Liam’s lifeless body by news outlet TMZ causing uproar among both members of the public and other celebrities.

Liam tragically passed away on Wednesday at the age of 31 after he fell from a third-floor balcony in the Casa Sur hotel in Argentinian capital Buenos Aires. Both fans and his fellow celebrities, as well as his One Direction bandmates, music mogul and X Factor creator Simon Cowell, and friends and family of Liam, have publicly admitted their devastation over the loss since he died.

Investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding Liam’s death continue as authorities work to determine what happened in the moments before he plunged 45ft to his death suffering catastrophic injuries. Reports have suggested that he was seen acting erratically in the hotel lobby just minutes before he died as he smashed up his laptop and told a fellow guest “I used to be in a boyband. That’s why I’m so f**ked up.”

There was also an array of alcohol and drug paraphernalia found in his room which Police say had been “in complete disarray” with “various items broken”. A whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone had been retrieved from the internal hotel courtyard where Liam’s body was found.