She said: “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.
“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.
“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,” Cheryl said.
Kate Cassidy, the girlfriend of the former One Direction member said she is at a “complete loss” following his death.
In a statement posted on Instagram, she said: “Thank you for all of the kind words and love that has been sent my way.
“I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real.
“I ask and pray that you’ll give me the space to navigate this in private.
“Liam, my angel, you are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely.
“I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam. “
Niall Horan also paid tribute to his former One Direction band member Liam Payne saying he will “cherish every moment” they had.
Musicians and famous faces have been remembering the singer (31) after police in Argentina said he died falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
Payne rose to fame aged 16 as part of One Direction, who went on to become a global sensation after they finished third on The X Factor in 2010.
In a post on Instagram, Horan wrote: “I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real.
“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.
One Direction members ‘devastated’ and will miss Liam Payne ‘terribly’
“All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness. We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.
“I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.
“My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear. Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you brother.”
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Simon Cowell has said he is “truly devastated” after the death of One Direction star Liam Payne, adding “every tear I have shed is a memory of you”.
“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” he said in a statement on Instagram. “Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.
“And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.
“This is so difficult to put into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together. I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like?
“And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music.
“And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”
Cowell continued in his Instagram statement: “I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t.
“You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.
“You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a dad.
“After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago. I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have.
“He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it. I always thought the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were.
“And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people because you left us too soon. Rest in peace my friend. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family.”
Ed Sheeran urged others to “be kind” as he paid tribute to Payne.
Alongside a black-and-white photo of Payne smiling shared to Instagram, Sheeran wrote: “At a loss for words.
“My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, every memory I have with him is a great one, just such a heart-breaking situation. Be kind. X”
Robbie Williams also called for greater kindness and empathy following the death of Payne, who he described as “a handsome talented boy”.
The former Take That member recalled performing and hanging out with One Direction during the 2010 X Factor final, saying: “They were all cheeky and lovely.”
He continued: “Our paths have crossed ever since that day and I’m fond of them all. Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did.”
Williams went on to call for people to not make sudden judgements and to think before they write their thoughts on the internet, saying: “Even famous strangers need your compassion”.
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Former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who rose to fame after winning The X Factor with the girl group, said Payne had been “so lovely and humble” every time their paths crossed.
“I’ll never forget seeing One Direction on tour for the first time and being instantly drawn to Liam’s stage presence, you could just tell he was made for that stage”, she added.
“Gone way too soon, sending all my love and deepest condolences to his family and everyone close to him.”
JLS star Oritse Williams reflected on the challenges the music industry can bring after being propelled to fame following The X Factor two years before One Direction were formed on the show.
Williams, who first met Payne when the singer auditioned for the singing competition the first time round aged 14, told BBC Breakfast, “I feel with the music industry there isn’t enough duty of care.
“It’s a tough, tough game. You have to have very thick skin, and when you haven’t lived life and been through different trials and tribulations, to go through trials and tribulations whilst being under the spotlight is a very difficult thing and who’s there to support.
“I’ve been through my own trials and tribulations, which has been well documented, and there was nowhere for me to look at, I just had my family and friends and my loved ones to hold me up.
“And I feel like with Liam, it’s the same. He did have, obviously, a beautiful family, but you’re out there alone in this crazy, crazy world where there’s a lot of vultures, I’m not going to lie to you. It’s very, very tough to navigate sometimes.”
Tributes have been paid to Liam Payne (Ian West/PA)
Boyband JLS previously said Payne felt like their “original fifth member” when he auditioned alongside them in 2008 and they “always knew he’d go on to achieve great things”.
“To have lost a brother of ours so young is devastating and we will fondly remember the joy and the hope and the happiness he brought to so many people’s lives”, the group added in a social media post.
“Our hearts go out to his mum and family, his little boy and all those around the world who will miss him so very deeply. Gone way too soon brother, Rest in Peace.”
Craig Revel Horwood remembered Payne as a “lovely person” and said he thought the singer had a “very bright future” ahead.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge, who met the singer when they appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show together, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Thirty-one is just no age and I just hate that.
“He was a lovely, lovely, lovely person backstage, when Shirley (Ballas), Motsi (Mabuse) and myself were on Jonathan Ross with him.
“He was just adorable and he had what I considered a very bright future.
“And someone that young leaving the world so soon or early, before their life has come to fruition.
“I mean, I was 30 when I stopped dancing and then I changed my career entirely. And I just think of myself at that age and the life he could have had ahead of him is, it is frightening, isn’t it?
“And it’s super, super, super sad. So my heart pours out to his family.”