LONDON - Liam Payne and the Cheryl Cole, who share 15-month-old son Bear together, have decided to call it quits after more than two years together.

"Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together," Payne said on Twitter Monday to announce the breakup.

Cole also commented on the split on Twitter, stating, "We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."

Payne, a former member of One Direction and Cole, a singer and former member of Girls Aloud, famously met on the UK version of "The X Factor". Cole, 35, was a judge of the show while Payne. 24, was paired up with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson as One Direction after they failed to advance as individuals. - Agencies