Cheryl and Zayn Malik have paid tribute to Louis Tomlinson's mother Johannah Deakin, who passed away in the early hours of Wednesday after a battle with leukaemia. Taking to her Twitter page on Friday after the news was released, the former X Factor judge wrote: "My heart breaks for you. I am so sorry. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones at this incredibly tragic time."
Moments later, Cheryl's boyfriend and Louis' One Direction bandmate Liam Payne took to Twitter to post a heartfelt note, which which read: "Louis, I'm so sorry for you my brother my heart aches for you, just know I love you the same from a million miles away as i do right next to you. I'm always here for you through everything as you have been for me. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this incredibly sad time I can't begin to imagine what you are all going through. Rip Johanna you are forever in my thoughts."
Upon hearing the news, Louis's former 1D bandmate Zayn shared his condolences. "@Louis_Tomlinson love you bro! All of your family is in my prayers. proud of your strength and know your mum is too x," he said, while X Factor boss Simon Cowell tweeted: "Heartbroken for you @Louis_Tomlinson. Your mum Jay was an incredible person. Sending you all my love"
© Photo: RexLouis Tomlinson's mother Johannah Deakin has passed away after a battle with leukaemia
Elsewhere, Ronan Keating, whose mother died when he was just 20 years old, also reached out to the father-of-one. He tweeted: "My Heart goes out to Louis Tomlinson and his family at this time. Heartbreaking."
Louis' mother has left behind six other children, Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, both 12, and twins Ernest and Doris, both aged two. In a statement released to HELLO! Online, her family said: "It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin’s family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday 7th December 2016. Earlier this year Johannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukaemia that required immediate and continuous treatment. We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private."
© Photo: Getty Images"My heart breaks for you. I am so sorry," tweeted Cheryl
Earlier this year, Johannah was diagnosed with a "very aggressive" form of leukaemia. Her husband Dan Deakin added: "Johannah was first and foremost a truly amazing mother to seven children – Louis (24), Lottie (18), Félicité (16), and two sets of twins, Phoebe and Daisy (12) and Ernest and Doris (2) - whose individual talents and success are testament to the principles and beliefs she instilled in them. She was also an incredibly proud grandmother to Freddie.
"Incredibly selfless, she would always look to put other people before herself. She desired nothing more than for everyone around her to be happy and loving. She worked tirelessly on numerous charity campaigns, creating memories for many individuals and their families. It wasn't uncommon for Johannah to hear through the media of an individual in need of assistance, and she would immediately make it her objective to get that person what they often desperately needed, and rarely without success."
"Proud of your strength and know your mum is too," shared Zayn Malik
Louis's father Troy Austin split from Johannah in 1997. The midwife announced her engagement to Dan and that the couple were expecting twins in 2013. Two weeks ago, Louis took to his Instagram page to share a sweet picture of himself with his mother. In the caption, he poignantly wrote: "My mother looking gorgeous before the Brits earlier this year. I love you and miss you so much!"
