Liam Payne Is Full Of Appreciation For Son & Ex Following Secret Rehab Stint

Liam Payne is in one direction through the journey of gratitude and reflection.

After experiencing some tough times, during which he said unsavory things about his former bandmates, the talented singer is breaking free from the past and charting a new course toward personal growth. 

The 29-year-old recently made a notable comeback to social media. In a YouTube video, the "iCarly" guest star got candid about various aspects of his life, including his relationship with his son, Bear Gray Payne, and his time at a wellness center. 

The "Family Guy" voice actor shared the details of his transformative journey during a 100-day stay at a treatment facility in Louisiana. Admitting that he was without his phone throughout this period, Payne disclosed that he is now six months sober and has "more of a grip on life."

Sharing heartfelt sentiments about his relationship with his six-year-old, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole, the actor expressed his appreciation for their time together. He acknowledged the importance of their bond and expressed gratitude towards Bear and his former partner, saying:

"More than anything, I want to say thank you to him and his mum for giving me a little bit of freedom to go and get well in that moment…because I had to." 

The "Get Low" artist continued, "There's no point trying to be a dad when you've got nothing to teach, and I don't think up until this point I really had much to say to him other than just loving him deeply." 

The Teen Choice Awards winner recalled a sweet moment when Bear texted him from his iPad with a polite "Hello, Dad," to which he responded with a casual "ello." However, the tiny tot corrected him, insisting on the correct spelling with an "H."

Impressed by his intelligence and quick learning, Payne marveled at his son's development, expressing joy in witnessing the little one's growth. The "DWTS" guest star acknowledged that the youngster's learning ability surpassed his own, making him a source of wonder and pride.

As part of his journey towards a better mindset, he took the opportunity to reassess his past behavior through a new perspective. He reflected on a June 2022 interview with Logan Paul, where he spoke critically about his former "One Direction" bandmates, including Zayn Malik. 

Acknowledging that his words stemmed from a place of anger and frustration, the "Strip That Down" singer stated:

"A lot of what I just said just came from the wrong place. I was so angry at what was going on around me, and instead of taking a look inwards, I decided to look outwards at everybody else, and I just took it out on everybody else, which is just wrong, really."

Looking remorseful, the father-of-one said, "So obviously, apologize for that in the first instance because that's definitely not me." Additionally, he expressed gratitude towards the other boy band members noting that they stood by him during his difficult times.

In May, The Blast reported that while attending the KSI vs. Joe Fournier fight in London, Payne took the opportunity to discuss his journey to sobriety. 

The "Dynamo: Magician Impossible" guest actor proudly revealed that he had reached a significant milestone, marking 100 days of soberness. Reflecting on it, he stated, "I feel really, really good, and support from the fans and everything has been really, really good. So, I'm super happy." 

The TV personality noted that after seeing photos of himself looking bloated with what he called a "pills-and-booze face," he decided to address his self-destructive habits. He also revealed that his battle with alcohol addiction began as a member of "One Direction." 

Before explaining further, the "Drop the Mic" guest acknowledged that he was not blaming anyone for the situation and expressed his intention to avoid coming across as complaining or seeking sympathy. 

However, he shed light on the band's challenges as their fame skyrocketed, "But it feels to me like, when we were in the band, the best way to secure us, because of how big it got, was to just lock us in a room. And, of course, what is in the room? A minibar."