As tributes continue to pour in for Liam Payne, one video in particular has fans tearing up.
The video, which was posted on Payne’s Snapchat back in August, shows Payne talking about his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, and how he’s starting to look like the One Direction star’s mini-me.
“I didn’t get any ‘dad socks’ though,” he said, just as he was celebrating his 31st birthday. “But I am going to speak to my son in a little bit, which I’m really excited about. Bless him.”
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Payne welcomed his son in March 2017 with then-girlfriend Cheryl Cole, a member of Girls Aloud. The couple started dating in 2016 after Cole divorced her second husband. Payne and Cole announced their split in 2018.
@dailymail Liam Payne posted an emotional video about how excited he was to see his son Bear in August. Rest in peace, Liam ❤️ #liampayne #cherylcole #onedirection #news
♬ snowfall (Slowed + Reverb) – Øneheart & reidenshi
“He’s so big now. He’s a big boy, and he looks like a mini-me,” Payne said in the August video, which was reposted by Daily Mail on TikTok Oct. 17. “As if we need anymore me in the world.”
As Mamas Uncut previously reported, Payne died on Wednesday, Oct. 16 after falling from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was just 31 years old at the time of his death.
Daily Mail shared a second clip of Payne speaking about his son. The singer had been away from Bear for a little bit and was having a hard time dealing with the distance.
@dailymail “We need you here now daddy” – Liam Payne shares emotional words about his son, Bear ❤️????️ #liampayne #bear #cherylcole #emotional #rip
♬ you not the same – tilekid
“It’s been the toughest time being away from him at the moment,” he said. “I can see a lot of myself in him.”
He went on to recall something “really cute” his son said to him that week. “Oh, we need here now, Daddy,” Bear said, as if Payne needed any more reason to miss him.
Payne explains where his son’s name comes from
In September 2017, Payne appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden and was asked why he didn’t name his baby boy, who was just a few months old at the time, James, after the show’s host.
Payne was also joined by comedian James “Jim” Gaffigan and actor James Van Der Beek.
The trio of James acted upset when their fake disappointment quickly turned into curiosity as they cracked jokes at the unique name.
But then Payne shared the reasoning behind the name.
When his son was born, he would get fluid in his lungs when letting out a good cry. As a result, his son would make a rumbling sound while sleeping, and that’s how he earned the name Bear.
Payne reassured the crew that his son was fine and the doctor said he “just likes to make a lot of noise.”
Payne’s son will grow up with plenty of support
On Oct. 17, Payne’s former bandmates took to Instagram to share a group message, as well as individual messages, on their respective social media accounts.
One of those bandmates, Louis Tomlinson, made a special promise to Payne, regarding his son.
“A message to you Liam if you’re listening,” he wrote. “I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.”
Tomlinson described Payne as “the most vital part of One Direction,” in his opinion. “His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on.”
Niall Horan also has Bear in his thoughts. “My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear,” he wrote in his Instagram tribute.
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Police are still investigating the events that happened leading up to Payne’s tragic death on Oct. 16.