I think the power dynamics between Liam/Cheryl are a bit murky (I didn't realise until I googled it just now that he was as young as he was when they got together - 21/22 from what I can work out?) but I don't think it's as straight forward as 'if the roles were reversed it would be unacceptable'. I certainly don't think it's comparable to Schofield, or even Flak when she dated Harry when he was 17 and she was in her 30s (?).
With the latter examples, the power imbalance is huge, not just with respect to age but with where all the parties were in their respective careers and the influence they could have over the other. We now know that CF had long standing MH issues and would not have been easy to be in a relationship with - especially when you're 17 and in the biggest boyband ever (I'm not sure where they were in their trajectory at that point, I imagine Harry was already way more famous than Caroline but had no experience managing it all, and was still a child). Thankfully it seems H was actually pretty grounded with a strong support network around him, which potentially protected him from what could have turned into an abusive relationship of sorts.
However with Liam and Cheryl, I won't pretend I'm totally comfortable with it and the armchair psychologist in me wonders if it speaks to some insecurities in Cheryl, but I do think the power dynamics are different. Yes, they first met when he was 14 which has parallels to Schofield but, unlike PS, there's no evidence of her having any contact with him (beyond what would be professionally appropriate) between then and when they got together. There's no tweets/snaps/leaked whatsapps between the two back when he was underage which would to me suggest grooming. That isn't to say they don't exist, just that I haven't seen anything like that.
From what I understand, they got together after 1D performed on the X Factor. By that point all the boys were in their prime, biggest boy band in the world etc, Liam probably thought his star would never fall. Yes, he's a lot younger but he's not the same 14 year old lad who had her poster up on his wall all those years ago, he's now got the career and networth to match, if not surpass, hers. This important to understand because power dynamics are about how we stay trapped in unhealthy relationships - Liam always had the power to leave, and he did. I agree he was young and vulnerable, and if Cheryl was my mate at the time I would be questioning 'are you sure this is who you want to have your children with?' but I haven't seen any other evidence that would suggest to me it was an abusive relationship. To the contrary, Cheryl and Bear could have been the best thing that ever happened to him if he could just let himself be happy and loved. All of this said as an ignorant bystander of course.
With the latter examples, the power imbalance is huge, not just with respect to age but with where all the parties were in their respective careers and the influence they could have over the other. We now know that CF had long standing MH issues and would not have been easy to be in a relationship with - especially when you're 17 and in the biggest boyband ever (I'm not sure where they were in their trajectory at that point, I imagine Harry was already way more famous than Caroline but had no experience managing it all, and was still a child). Thankfully it seems H was actually pretty grounded with a strong support network around him, which potentially protected him from what could have turned into an abusive relationship of sorts.
However with Liam and Cheryl, I won't pretend I'm totally comfortable with it and the armchair psychologist in me wonders if it speaks to some insecurities in Cheryl, but I do think the power dynamics are different. Yes, they first met when he was 14 which has parallels to Schofield but, unlike PS, there's no evidence of her having any contact with him (beyond what would be professionally appropriate) between then and when they got together. There's no tweets/snaps/leaked whatsapps between the two back when he was underage which would to me suggest grooming. That isn't to say they don't exist, just that I haven't seen anything like that.
From what I understand, they got together after 1D performed on the X Factor. By that point all the boys were in their prime, biggest boy band in the world etc, Liam probably thought his star would never fall. Yes, he's a lot younger but he's not the same 14 year old lad who had her poster up on his wall all those years ago, he's now got the career and networth to match, if not surpass, hers. This important to understand because power dynamics are about how we stay trapped in unhealthy relationships - Liam always had the power to leave, and he did. I agree he was young and vulnerable, and if Cheryl was my mate at the time I would be questioning 'are you sure this is who you want to have your children with?' but I haven't seen any other evidence that would suggest to me it was an abusive relationship. To the contrary, Cheryl and Bear could have been the best thing that ever happened to him if he could just let himself be happy and loved. All of this said as an ignorant bystander of course.
