The mother of Liam Payne’s son has condemned the “disgusting reports and media exploitation” in the wake of the 31-year-old One Direction star’s death this week.

In a heartfelt Instagram post on Friday, British singer Cheryl Cole, who shares custody of 7-year-old Bear with Payne, expressed her grief over his passing.

“As I navigate this devastating event and work through my own pain during this unimaginable time, I’d like to gently remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she shared. “Liam wasn’t just a pop star; he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a true friend, and a father to our son who is just 7 years old.”

According to local Argentine authorities, Payne tragically died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

“A son who now has to confront the reality of never seeing his father again. What pains me the most is knowing that one day Bear will encounter the horrible reports and media coverage we have seen over the last two days. It breaks my heart that I can’t shield him from that in the future,” Cole continued her message.

“I urge you to ponder the purpose of these reports, which seem to only cause more pain for those left behind to handle this tragedy. Before commenting or creating videos, please reflect on whether you would like your own child or family to read them. Please allow Liam the dignity he deserves now that he has passed, to rest in peace finally.”

On Wednesday, many fans were stunned to find a cropped image of Payne’s lifeless body alongside TMZ’s report on his death after clicking an alert, tweet, or text link. The image was later removed by the site.

TMZ has faced criticism in the past for their coverage of celebrity incidents. In 2020, police criticized the outlet for their behavior at the scene of Kobe Bryant’s death, and previously faced backlash in 2017 for their handling of Tom Petty’s passing.

Cole and Payne first crossed paths on “The X Factor” UK during his solo audition in 2008, and they appeared to reconnect in 2015 when One Direction went on hiatus. They were in a relationship from 2016 to 2018, and their son was born in March 2017.

Payne leaves behind his 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he had with Cheryl Cole; his parents, Karen and Geoff Payne; and his sisters, Ruth and Nicola.

Payne rose to international fame as a member of One Direction, formed on “The X Factor” UK, along with fellow teen artists Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016 after releasing their fifth album, “Made in the A.M.” All members, including Malik, who left the group in March 2015, pursued solo careers afterward.

Following the hiatus, Payne released several successful singles and his solo album “LP1” in December 2019. His 2017 collaboration with Quavo, “Strip That Down,” reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other popular songs included his duet with Rita Ora, “For You,” featured on the “Fifty Shades Freed” soundtrack, and his collaboration with Zedd, “Get Low.”

His most recent release, a single named “Teardrops,” contains lyrics reflecting feelings of being “broken” after a heartbreak.