Kate Cassidy, former girlfriend of late One Direction heartthrob Liam Payne, has now spoken out about his sudden death, calling it a “tragic accident” and regretting deeply that she had departed Argentina before the accident.
The 25-year-old US social media sensation, who dated Payne between 2022, spoke of her devastation in an exclusive interview with The Sun, admitting that she had never imagined that something like this would happen.
“No, I never did think [he would die young]. I just never thought this would have happened,” she admitted.
Payne’s Death: A Heartbreaking Tragedy
Liam Payne passed away in a tragic accident in October 2024 when he fell from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 31-year-old singer had been in the nation to watch a concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
In a week since his death, Cassidy posted on social media to remember Payne, calling him “my best friend, the love of my life.” She posted a very intimate picture of a note he had written before his death, which had a plan of marriage within a year.
Looking back to her last moments with him, Cassidy spoke of regret at having departed Argentina and Payne behind.
“Obviously, if I knew, if I could see into the future, I would never have left Argentina,” she said, pointing out just how sudden the tragedy had been.
Cassidy’s Painful Regret: “I Never Thought It Would Turn Out This Way”
Cassidy admitted that she had flown back home to Florida by herself, leaving Payne behind in Argentina because she needed to attend to their dog, Nala.
“I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We had our dog, and obviously, I never, ever thought this event would occur,” she said.
Although they had broken up and gone their separate ways, she said Payne had been in good spirits at the time, adding, “Liam was in such a good headspace when I left.”
In the aftermath of Payne’s unexpected death, the issue of the responsibility of the music industry for young talent and their well-being was highlighted. Toxicology samples taken after his death revealed that he had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his bloodstream, the prosecutor’s office in Argentina said.
The official reason for his death was later found to be “polytrauma”, a medical term for several traumatic injuries, in the UK inquest in Buckinghamshire.
“We Were Soulmates” – Cassidy Fights Loss
Cassidy has since moved out of their home in Florida and back to New Jersey since Payne’s death. She said she is still coming to terms with his death, referring to him as her “soulmate”.
“I think about Liam every second of every day,” she admitted, describing how her world was turned around after his death.
She said, “That he won’t be there with me to get through this life, that I’ll have to get through this without him with me. it’s really difficult.”
Their Love Story: From a Waitress to a Pop Star’s Girlfriend
Cassidy met Payne in 2022, when she was working as a waitress in South Carolina. Theirs was a whirlwind romance, and she was a constant presence in his life.
When she was called and told of the death of Payne, she said she was stunned.
“I think I just totally spaced out. When I finally found out the news was true, I was numb. I tried calling him. I called pretty much everybody.”
To this day, she grapples with the reality of his loss, confessing to still dialing his phone number simply to listen out his voicemail message.
Cassidy also spoke about how hard it has been for her to listen to his music, something which was previously a source of comfort.
“I used to fall asleep to his music, but now I just can’t bring myself to play it. Maybe someday,” she said.
An Unfinished Future: “You Never Know What Tomorrow Brings”
Speaking about their final moments together, Cassidy described their relationship to be “full of love”, and Payne to be “happy and positive.”
“We were in such a great place, just full of love. He was so happy and positive… You never really know what tomorrow brings, you never know.”
Though not happy, Cassidy is attempting to move on, but the agony of losing Payne continues to be overwhelming. As she still grieves, she has the memories of their love to keep her company, and struggles to come to terms with a world without him.
