Cheryl Cole, former member of Girls Aloud and a judge on The X Factor, recently opened up about the mental health battles she faced during the peak of her fame, revealing the personal struggles she dealt with for years. Despite achieving success and adoration as part of one of the UK’s most iconic girl bands and later as a TV personality, Cheryl was trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and anxiety that she found hard to overcome. Her confidence, already fragile, hit rock bottom, and she even confessed to engaging in cruel self-talk. “I would talk to myself so nastily… no one could make me feel worse about myself than I did,” she shared in a candid conversation on Radio 1’s Life Hacks.
This internal battle intensified during her years of public scrutiny and constant media attention, especially during her time as a judge on The X Factor. Despite maintaining a composed exterior in front of the paparazzi, Cheryl admitted, “inside, I was dying.” She explained that her struggles with negative thought patterns became even more apparent after giving birth to her son, Bear, in 2017. Cheryl reached a breaking point, realizing that she needed to seek help for her mental health, especially as she faced the added responsibility of raising a young child. “I didn’t want that to be happening when I was trying to focus on raising a child,” she said.
Cheryl turned to therapy and began a course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helped her begin to undo years of self-loathing and negative thinking. She recognized that to be the best mother she could be for Bear, she needed to address her mental health and shift her priorities. The therapeutic process helped her reshape her thought patterns, allowing her to find a sense of stability and peace in her own mind. “It felt like my responsibilities shifted and my priorities changed,” she reflected. Therapy was key in giving her the mental clarity she needed to move forward in life and parent with more confidence.
Throughout this journey, Cheryl’s past relationships had contributed to her feelings of insecurity. Her first marriage to footballer Ashley Cole was marred by allegations of infidelity, leading to their divorce in 2010. Her second marriage, to French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, also ended in divorce just a few years later. Despite these setbacks, Cheryl found renewed hope with Liam Payne, with whom she shares a son, Bear. Liam was the one person Cheryl described as never betraying her trust. “Liam was the only man who has ever been faithful to me,” she shared in a 2018 interview, underscoring the sense of loyalty that existed in their relationship.
Although Cheryl and Liam’s romantic relationship came to an end in 2018, they maintained a strong co-parenting partnership for the sake of their son. Liam was committed to being present in Bear’s life, ensuring he was involved and available whenever his son needed him. “I make sure that when I see him, he has 100 percent of my time,” Liam explained in 2022. Sadly, following Liam’s tragic passing in October 2024 at the age of 31, Cheryl expressed her heartbreak and the emotional toll it would have on their young son. “Liam was not only a pop star, but a father to our seven-year-old son,” she wrote in a touching tribute. The loss left Bear with the painful reality of growing up without his dad, a grief Cheryl must now help him navigate.
Through her public struggles and personal hardships, Cheryl’s story is a poignant reminder of the hidden battles many face, even those in the public eye. Her journey toward healing is a testament to the power of seeking help, confronting personal demons, and the strength it takes to rebuild one’s life after emotional turmoil.
