Liam Payne: Has Cheryl ‘Gagged’ Her Husband Over Divorce Proceedings?

Fans of One Direction star Liam Payne have been more than a little cautious when it comes to his reported romance with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini. When it was first reported that Payne and Cheryl were dating, many fans were skeptical. Liam had, after all, just split up with long-term girlfriend Sophia Smith and was reportedly “devastated.” Add to that the fact that Cheryl is ten years Liam’s senior and married, and you begin to understand why Payne fans are concerned.

It is also fair to say that many of Liam’s fans believed the reported romance to be a publicity stunt, given that Cheryl had signed to One Direction’s management team just days before the news broke. For the past five years, the various members of One Direction have been linked with dozens of beautiful women, and many fans believed they were publicity stunts.

.@Real_Liam_Payne's sister posts epic Twitter rant to defend @CherylOfficial and THAT dress https://t.co/SwO2FWgLlf pic.twitter.com/hiZVahDAYQ

— MTV UK (@MTVUK) June 21, 2016

It seems bizarre to believe that high-profile celebrities like Payne would engage in a fake romance for the sake of publicity, but it is a situation that is surprisingly common. Earlier this week, the Guardian questioned whether Taylor Swift’s reported relationship with actor Tom Hiddleston might be a PR Stunt.

Whatever Liam’s fans believe about his romance with Cheryl it can’t be denied that the couple have been seen together on numerous occasions recently. That in itself is enough to spark the rumor mill into action and the Sun reports that Liam and Cheryl are trying for a baby. They quote an unnamed member of “Liam’s inner circle” as the source of the claims that Cheryl and Liam are keen to hear the patter of tiny feet.

“It’s very serious now between Cheryl and Liam and they have been talking among close friends about starting a family. Cheryl is happier than she’s been since the good days of her marriage to Ashley Cole.

“She’s content and while they’re in the honeymoon period, this feels like a connection for the future.”

Interestingly as a by-note to the same article, the Sun claims that Cheryl has been to court to stop her husband Jean Bernard from talking about their relationship. Apparently, a judge has agreed to an injunction stopping Jean Bernard from telling all about his marriage to Cheryl because “if he speaks or gives interviews he will be in big trouble.”

Liam recently took Cheryl to his sister’s wedding, and the Mirror reports that Cheryl won over Liam’s family. It seems that has been enough to spark speculation that Payne and Cheryl could soon be getting married themselves. They report that a source has told Reveal magazine that Cheryl has “won over” Liam’s parents, who were worried that their romance could be short-lived.

“Karen is now convinced Cheryl is the perfect candidate to be Liam’s wife.

“Cheryl has completely won them over, and now they’re both convinced she could be the one that Liam could finally settle down with.”

The language that the “source” used is interesting. Payne is just 22-years-old, hardly an age where someone should be looking to “finally settle down.” There is not much chance that Payne will be rushing to the altar with Cheryl, she is after all still married to Jean Bernard, a fact that many outlets conveniently overlook when they print rumors such as this.

Payne is a talented and intelligent young man who has the world at his feet so why are some so keen to see him married? Liam has spent the last five years wrapped up in the maelstrom that was life on the road with One Direction. Payne is rightly enjoying the fruits of his labor and the freedom that One Direction’s hiatus has afforded him. Liam is entitled to enjoy his life, and if that includes a relationship with Cheryl, then that is no one’s business but his own.

Payne’s fans want nothing more than to see him happy and content but the pressures of living life in a bubble of media intrusion is sure to take its toll on Liam and anyone in a similar situation. There is no need for the media to report on whether or not Payne wants children with Cheryl or whether Liam is set to marry. Those issues will take care of themselves in time without a daily diatribe of rumor and speculation.

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