Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy has spoken out about the shocking and tragic loss of her musician boyfriend last year in a new interview.
Speaking in her first TV interview, Kate opened up to host Lorraine Kelly about how her life has changed since the One Direction star’s passing, sharing that she often finds it “hard to get out of bed.”
“I find myself talking about him so much in the present tense, and it’s something where I don’t even feel the need to correct myself because that’s part of my healing journey that I’m still working on accepting the fact he’s not here any more.”
Liam, who passed away in Buenos Aires in October 2024, had consistently been open about his mental health journey in the later years of his life. Inspired by his advocacy, Kate shared that she has now helped launch Lorraine’s March4March campaign – encouraging viewers to walk an extra 10,000 steps outdoors to help their mental health.
“I genuinely believe Liam, in a way, guided me to this campaign and wanted me to be involved in this and help other people. It really can make such a difference,” Kate shared.
“I’ve always enjoyed walking, but now I’m going through this healing journey, sometimes it’s hard for me to get out of bed in the morning… but I have this responsibility and this obligation that I am almost, in a way, I have no choice. I have to get out of bed for [the couple’s dog] Nala, whether it’s a five-minute walk or a 20-minute walk.:
Looking back on their relationship, Kate concluded, He would light up any room he would walk into, he’d have this sense of humour where he could make anything better, and I feel his presence was just comforting, warming, and that’s just something I’ll never forget about him ever.”
“I’ll always have so much love for Liam. He was one of a kind.”
Kate’s sit-down TV interview comes just over one month since the 25-year-old first spoke about Liam’s tragic passing.
Speaking to The Sun, Kate shared, “I’m trying to be the best I can be, but I feel like my life has changed so much. I think about Liam every second of every day.”
Kate, who had left the couple’s hotel in Argentina to return home to Florida a few days early, also shared that she had no indication that Liam was in a potentially vulnerable state.
“No, I never did think [he might die young] … I just never thought this would have happened,” she said. “Love is so optimistic, and you just hope that everything will work out at the end. Obviously, if I knew, if I could see into the future, I would never have left Argentina.”
“With addiction, you just never know when it’s going to come out. I genuinely always really did try to do anything I could do to help. You know, I’m 25, I’m not an expert with any of this, so it was hard. But I loved him and I loved him no matter what. I just did what I could do, and what I could manage to do.”
Liam was beloved across the world after finding fame in 2010 alongside Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson in global phenomenon One Direction, before embarking on a solo career when the boy band went on hiatus in 2016.
His fans have become both a blessing and a curse for Kate. While many reached out in support, she revealed she had also been on the receiving end of threats and accusations of being a gold digger. Her appearance at Liam’s November funeral even saw her accused of treating it like a “fashion show”.
“I understand that some of the more negative comments come from a place of loving Liam, and concern, and caring for Liam,” she said. “So I understand that because I love Liam, too. But for sure it’s hard because obviously, any criticism will get to you. Yeah, I have some [death threats]. And some of my DMs are, well, I can’t even put it into words exactly.”
Kate was 23 and working in a bar when she met Liam in 2022, beginning their two-year relationship. Having envisioned a future with the man she called “the love of my life”, she is now faced with a very different reality.
She will not discuss any ongoing financial assistance she may receive from his estate or whether Liam had made provisions for her in his will. The singer died with an estimated fortune of $110 million, with the majority likely to be inherited by his 7-year-old son, Bear, who he shared with ex Cheryl Cole.
Kate has also moved out of the rented mansion they shared in Florida and is back in her family home in New Jersey.
“We were in such a great place, just full of love – he was so happy and positive,” she said. “It’s genuinely insane to me how things can just be taken away from you so quickly in life, you never truly know what tomorrow will bring, you never know.”
Her January 2025 interview marks Kate’s first public statement following her initial tribute following the former One Direction star’s tragic passing on October 16, aged 31.
“My heart is shattered in ways I can’t put into words. I wish you could see the huge impact you’ve had on the world, even as it feels so dark right now,” she wrote on Instagram.
“You are – because I can’t say were – my best friend, the love of my life, and everyone you touched felt just as special as I did. Your energy was contagious, lighting up every room you walked into… I’m struggling to figure out how to live in a world without you by my side.”
Reflecting on their connection, Kate continued, “Liam, you had the kindest soul and the most fun-loving spirit. It feels like I’ve lost the best part of myself. I can’t imagine a day without your laughter and love. You brought so much light into my life.”
The 25-year-old also shared that prior to Liam’s passing, the couple were making plans for their future together.
“A few weeks ago, we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together. I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said, ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever 444.’ Liam, I know we’ll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned.”
Since first crossing paths in October 2022, Liam and Kate’s romance captured the hearts of fans across the globe on social media, with the pair frequently sharing videos of their travels and funny moments on TikTok.
Now, as fans continue to look back on their relationship, we take a closer look back at Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy’s romance.
Who is Liam Payne’s girlfriend?
Liam Payne was in a relationship with 25-year-old influencer Kate Cassidy.
The pair were first spotted together attending a Halloween party in October 2022 and fans were quick to investigate who his rumoured girlfriend could be after they were photographed wearing co-ordinating Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee costumes.
After sharing a few snaps together on social media in the following weeks, the couple made their romance red carpet official at the 2022 British Fashion Awards in London, with Liam commenting on her post from the event, “Who is that lucky dashing young man next to you 🤷🏻♂️ nah seriously you look fantastic I coulda just told you that as your on the sofa next to me but you know tech and phones n stuff.”
Liam and Kate’s romance had become a regular feature across the couple’s TikTok, with the pair sharing everything from romantic holiday snaps to trending dances and anything in between.
Despite their picture-perfect social media presence, rumours surrounding the couple’s relationship made headlines in 2023, with Us Weekly reporting that the newfound social media stars had parted ways.
Addressing some of the speculation surrounding his partnership, Liam later shared to his Instagram stories, “Gotta say you could tell me anything and I couldn’t be turned, I’ve never felt a love like I do for Katelyn. We make each other better people.”
“If it was just for the money, I’d give her all of it. It’s not though (please remember I’m hella sexy) and I know I’m fun and a loveable person, and I don’t give a f*** to say that for the first time in my life, I’m happy to be me and that’s priceless.”
