Cher Lloyd has spoken candidly about the devastating grief she has experienced since the death of her father, Darren, and the breakdown of her marriage.
The 33-year-old former X Factor star became emotional in an Instagram video shared on Tuesday, admitting that she had reached a point where she felt unable to hide her pain from her followers.
Cher, who is usually reluctant to discuss her private life publicly, said she was struggling particularly badly that day as memories of her father came flooding back.
Singer says losing her father feels like ‘the worst pain’
Fighting back tears, Cher told fans that she missed her father deeply and described feeling like a child again without him.
She said grief was difficult to explain and described it as the “worst pain” she had ever experienced.
Cher also challenged the idea that bereavement necessarily becomes easier with time, saying she did not believe the pain would simply disappear.
“People say it gets easier over time, but I don’t think it does,” she said, adding that she believed she would remain “this version” of herself forever.
The emotional admission offered fans a rare glimpse into how deeply Darren’s death has affected her.
Cher shared a glimpse of her family life
Following the emotional video, the singer posted a photograph featuring one of her children and described the youngster as her “greatest reason”.
Cher is a mother to two daughters, Delilah-Rae and Eliza Violet, who she shares with her estranged husband, Craig Monk.
Her children appear to have remained a central source of strength for her during an exceptionally difficult period.
Father’s death came months before marriage split
Darren’s death was announced by Cher in April, just months before news emerged that she and Craig had ended their 13-year marriage.
At the time, Cher shared a screenshot of a text conversation between herself and her father alongside an emotional tribute.
“Life will never be the same again. I’ve never felt pain like this,” she wrote.
She also revealed the dates of his birth and death, ending the tribute with a declaration of love for her father.
The message exchange showed Cher telling Darren that she loved him more than he would ever know, while he responded affectionately before saying he would see her the following day.
Cher had previously spoken about her father’s health
Darren’s death followed years of concern over his health.
In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Cher revealed that her father had been seriously unwell and was receiving treatment in hospital.
She explained at the time that he had been hospitalised twice during the lockdown period and that his existing health problems had made the situation particularly frightening for the family.
Cher said she found it extremely difficult being unable to visit him and expressed her gratitude to the doctors and nurses caring for him.
Marriage troubles became public on social media
The singer’s personal difficulties extended beyond her bereavement, with the collapse of her marriage becoming increasingly public earlier this year.
Cher initially fuelled speculation when she shared a photograph of her hand without her wedding ring. In response to a follower, she later said that the ring had been “in the bin”.
Those comments prompted criticism from a source close to Craig, who reportedly urged Cher to speak directly with her estranged husband rather than discuss their relationship online.
The source claimed Craig viewed the public comments as disrespectful and suggested that the couple should have an adult conversation about their problems away from social media.
Cher and Craig were married for 13 years
Cher married Craig Monk in November 2013, and the couple went on to have two daughters together.
Their first daughter, Delilah-Rae, was born in May 2018, while their second daughter, Eliza Violet, arrived in September 2023.
Amid the marriage breakdown, a source close to Craig said his priority was his children and that he was concentrating on moving forward with his life while putting their daughters first.
The public discussion surrounding the split has added another layer to what has already been an intensely painful period for Cher.
A rare glimpse into Cher’s private struggle
Cher’s emotional Instagram appearance marks a notably vulnerable moment for a singer who has previously acknowledged that she finds it difficult to share personal matters publicly.
Her comments suggest that the loss of her father continues to weigh heavily on her, while the end of her long-term marriage has brought another major change to her family life.
For now, Cher appears to be leaning on her children and using her platform to acknowledge the reality of her grief rather than pretending she has moved beyond it.
